Spain Destinations: The Guggenheim Museum In Bilbao

THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE SINCE 1980

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art located in Bilbao. The museum was designed by architect Frank Gehry in 1991 and it was inaugurated in 1997 by King Juan Carlos I. The museum has a total of 24,000 square meters (260,000 square feet) with interconnected buildings giving shape to a gigantic work of abstract sculpture. Even though the exterior is a work of art in itself, you may wonder if the interior is worth visiting, the answer is YES.

Guggenheim Bilbao Art Collection

The permanent collection of the museum includes works of art of the most important artists of the second half of the 20th century. It also has exhibits lent by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and special programs sponsored by the Foundation. The following pieces stand out in particular: Richard Serra’s The Matter of Time, Jenny Holzer’s Installation for Bilbao, Jeff Koons’ Puppy, Yves Klein’s Fire Fountain, Louise Bourgeois’ Maman, Jeff Koons’ Tulips, Daniel Buren’s Arcos rojos and Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog Sculpture.

Guggenheim Bilbao Activities

The museum offers special events, educational programs, workshops for adults and children, lectures, talks, concerts,  and one Friday a month, a special music and art event called Art After Dark. It also houses a library, the ZeroEspazio, an interactive learning space, a bookshop, a cafe, and two restaurants, in case you want to spend the whole day absorbing art. Admission is 15€ Adults – 7.5€ Senior – 7.5€ Students. There is an audio guide included with your admission and I highly recommend it so you won’t feel lost wandering around the multiple exhibition rooms. Even if you are not the “museum type” and don’t like to spend endless minutes in front of each exhibition, the visit can take up to three hours.