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The Museo de Belas Artes da Coruna (Museum of Fine Arts of La Coruna) is a short walk from the pretty harbor that is the heart of the city. One does have to navigate through its narrow streets with their picturesque galleries. (The term gallery here refers to enclosed balconies. While this is Spain, it is the northwest corner and thus subject to winds from the North Atlantic). However, it is an interesting, romantic walk and within a few minutes we were at the museum.
Designed by Gallaecian architect Manuel Gallego Joretto, the museum is a combination of the new and the old. Most of it is a modern structure of concrete and glass but it also incorporates the remains of an 18th century Capuchin convent that once occupied the entire site. Around the museum is a small but pleasant green area. The building opened in 1991. Although the museum was founded in 1922, this building is its first exclusive home. Indeed, the museum had no home at all until 1947 when it was able to obtain space in the Consulate of the Sea. However, the museum had to share that building with other entities including the Royal Academy of Art. In addition, the security there was not very good and the collection was subject to theft. Consequently, a new building was long desired. The new building is well-suited for displaying art. It has six floors of exhibition space with spacious and well-lit galleries. Most are devoted to the permanent collection but two house temporary or traveling exhibitions. In addition, there are two intimate galleries in the portion of the museum that was once the convent. The museum also has an art library, a shop, an auditorium and an activities area used for teaching and making art. Numbering some 5,000 works, the museum's permanent collection including paintings, drawings, sculpture, engravings, decorative arts and archeological pieces. The collection is supplemented by works on loan from the Prado and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arta Reina Sofia. The museum presents European art from the 16th century to the present. There are works by Ruebens, Goya and Sorola but the primary focus is on works by Gallaecian artists who are often overlooked in more encyclopedic big-name collections. One sees that Galatians have participated in and contributed to many, if not all, major European art movements. The placards by the art works are in Galatian and in Spanish. Owned by the Spanish state, the Museu de Belles Arts de Coruna is managed by the Junta de Galica. For more information on visiting, see the Junta de Galica's website. |
Above: The first floor lobby area also includes a gallery for temporary exhibitions.
Below: The permanent collection is displayed in spacious galleries. 
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Places to see art - - La Coruna, Spain - - La Coruna Museum of Fine Arts