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Pre-Columbian art and artifacts, spanning 3,000 years, are exhibited in the 16th-century Palau Nadal. Sculpture, ceramics and detailed gold and silver pieces represent the rich artistic traditions of the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas. Temporary exhibits explore the richness and diversity of these civilizations.

Barcelona’s most visited museum is a must for fans of the beautiful game. With football memorabilia of every conceivable kind, you can learn all about the club’s history. Work donated by some of Catalonia’s leading artists is also on display. Admission includes access to Barca’s 120,000-seater stadium, an impressive monument to the city’s love-affair with the game.

Spain’s most important Egyptology museum houses more than 350 exhibits from over 3,000 years of Ancient Egypt. Exhibits include terracotta figures, human and animal mummies, and a bust of the lion goddess Sekhmet (700–300 BC).

A fascinating shrine to objects large and small, this museum houses the life collection of wealthy Catalan sculptor Frederic Marès. And what a trove. No mere hobby collector, the astute (and obsessive) Marès amassed holdings that a modern museum curator would die for. Among them, an impressive array of religious icons and statues – dating from Roman times to the present – and the spectacular “Museu Sentimental”, which displays anything from ancient watches to fans and dolls. Also worth a visit is the inviting Cafè d’Estiu (Cafés & Light Eats) on the museum’s sun-dappled patio.

Barcelona’s mighty seafaring legacy comes to life at this impressive museum housed in the vast, 13th-century Drassanes Reials (Royal Shipyards). Wander beneath looming Gothic arches and relive Barcelona’s maritime history through exhibits of model ships, old maps and figure-heads. A highlight is the full-scale replica of the Royal, the ship commanded by Don Juan of Austria during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Entrance also includes a visit to the Pailebot Santa Eulàlia (Pailebot Santa Eulàlia), a restored wooden sailing ship dating from 1918.

Discover the youthful repertoire of one of the 20th-century’s most revered artists. See Museu Picasso.

Housed in a pair of adjoining medieval palaces, the Textile and Fashion Museum traces the evolution of clothing and textiles from Egyptian fabrics to Baroque tapestries to haute couture designs. Innovative temporary exhibits explore the fashions of yesterday and today, occasionally showcasing creative new talent. The small but ultra-cool museum shop sells funky clothes, accessories and design items, while the Tèxtil Cafè beckons with outdoor tables in a shady courtyard.