"Frederic Marès Museum This little-known museum stands inthe shadow of Barcelona Cathedral. You'll find dramatic sculptures from pre-Roman times all the way to the 20th century, including religious works from medieval-era Spain. Frederic Marès was a sculptor by trade, but he was also an inveterate collector, and the museum’s upper floors—called the Collector’s Cabinet—are crammed with 17 rooms of quirky treasures. Among them is the Smokers’ Room, filled with hundreds of pipes, tobacco pouches, cigarette cases, ashtrays, and erotic matchbook covers. Other spaces are devoted to everything from walking sticks to cameras to timepieces to ladies’ accoutrements: gloves, fans, brooches, and even needlework made of human hair."
14 Best Museums in Barcelona | Condé Nast Traveler
"Officially, Frederic Marès was a sculptor, but his real vocation was hoarding. Five minutes inside his museum—which displays Marès' own sculptures and his collection of possessions—and you realize the level of obsessive acquisition. The top two floors are full of artifacts he amassed, from the beautiful (ladies’ fans, jewelry) to the bizarre (keys, spectacles, wrappers from cigarette packets). The lower floors focus on religious artifacts, including many, many crucifixes. Don’t miss the Zen courtyard with orange trees and a summer café." - Gemma Askham
A huge museum of mostly religious artefacts. It's certainly interesting, but most of the objects are very similar, and mostly lack more contextualisation. The entrance fee isn't too high though, so I think it's an interesting place to visit while in Barcelona and searching for a more low-key activity.
Anne Raynsford
Google
It is a quite extraordinary collection of things Mares was interested in, namely religious sculpture from medieval times onwards. Upstairs are countless beautiful fans, lace, pipes, ceramics, keys and other ironwork and many other things. Indeed, to me it’s a mini V&A and just as exhaustive and exhausting. Absolutely wonderful!
Caius Bernardi
Google
A remarkable museum.
The collection hosts a huge collection through more than five centuries of history among statues, paintings, jewellery, weapons, stamps, fans, old toys and many others.
Quite underrated I belive, an absolute must for all history lovers.
Absolutely 💯 recommended
Lena Minaeva
Google
A super museum! There are medieval wooden sculptures, ceramics, wrought iron utensils, playing cards, matchboxes, quirky canes, snuffboxes, tin soldiers, optical toys — it’s overwhelming! You just want to come back again and again!
inons Li
Google
So great museum. Much much more collective items including almost every field. Fully out of my expection
Stevenson Que
Google
Extensive collection not just of religious articles but also of a lot of things on the Collectors Cabinet section on the upper floors. Plus the museum personnel were nice
Morena A.
Google
“A Little Garden, but Paradise,
A Lot of Love, Big Joy 🪴”
*2nd Time Visit 😍
Steve F
Google
Absolutely amazing collection! Recommend coming on a non-free day as the audio tours are not available on those days. The audio tour is really needed for the upper floors where there is little to no signage.