Girona Museum of Art

The Girona Museum of Art is a public museum located in Girona, Spain. It holds the most important art collection in both the diocese and the province of Girona, offering a comprehensive chronological itinerary through Catalan art. The museum's holdings span from the Romanesque period to the dawn of the 20th century, with particular strength in medieval art. It is situated within the old Episcopal Palace next to the Girona Cathedral, a historic setting that integrates the region's artistic memory with its architectural heritage.

The museum was officially established on December 7, 1976, through an agreement between the Provincial Council of Girona and the Bishopric of Girona. This pact merged the collections of the Provincial Museum of Antiquities and Fine Arts with those of the Diocesan Museum of Girona. The Provincial Museum, created in 1846 to safeguard artistic and archaeological works secularized during the Mendizabal confiscation, had operated out of the Romanesque monastery of San Pedro de Galligans since 1870. The Diocesan Museum was created in 1942 by Bishop Jose Cartanana to protect church artworks, initially housed in the Carlos house in the Plaza del Vino before moving to the Episcopal Palace in 1974. Upon the 1976 merger, the Provincial Council provided its fine arts funds and covered management costs, while the Bishopric contributed the diocesan collection and the palace venue. Archaeological collections remained at San Pedro de Galligans under the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia. Between 1979 and 1991, the museum underwent remodeling to establish its chronological display. In 1992, the Generalitat of Catalonia assumed management responsibilities from the Provincial Council, subsequently expanding the contemporary art collection.

The museum's collection is organized chronologically, presenting the evolution of Girona and Catalan art through successive styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Realism, Modernism, and Noucentisme. It features pictorial and sculptural works, alongside monographic rooms dedicated to ceramics, glassware, and Catholic liturgical art. The medieval collections are the primary strength, forming the third most important collection of Romanesque and Gothic art in Catalonia. The Romanesque section includes stone sculpture, wood carvings, and frescoes, while the Gothic rooms highlight sculpture and altarpieces. Renaissance and Baroque spaces display liturgical objects, ceramics, and blown glass. The itinerary concludes with 19th and 20th century works by artists connected to Girona, tracing the transition from sacred objects to modern expression.

Among the most significant works is the liturgical ensemble from the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, dating to the 10th century. Romanesque highlights include the Christ in Majesty from Sant Miquel de Cruilles, the Biga de Cruilles, a 12th century baldaquin retaining its original polychromy, and frescoes from the apside of Sant Esteve de Pedrinya. A 12th century sculpture of a lioness, originally adorning a capital, remains a symbol of modern Girona. Gothic works feature the 13th century Calvary from the Girona Cathedral, sculptures by Master Bartomeu, Master Aloi, and Jaume Cascalls, and 15th century altarpieces by Lluis Borrasa. The Renaissance is represented by the retaule of Sant Feliu de Girona, painted between 1504 and 1520 by Perris de Fontaines and Joan de Borgonya, alongside works by Pere Mates. Later periods feature the 19th century sculpture Contra l'invasor, and paintings by Ramon Marti Alsina, Modest Urgell, Joaquim Vayreda, and Santiago Rusinol. The museum also displays El gran dia de Girona by Ramon Marti Alsina, the largest painting in Catalan art measuring 496 by 1082 centimeters, on deposit from the MNAC, located in the Santa Caterina building.

The museum is housed in the former Episcopal Palace, a structure with a millennial history adjacent to the Girona Cathedral. The earliest reference to the palace dates to 988, when Bishop Gotmar III purchased a house on the site. The palace structure itself was built by Bishop Guillem de Peratallada, recorded in the cathedral obituary upon his death in 1167. During the 13th century, the complex expanded into a castle like form, becoming the first Gothic construction in Girona. This phase included two towers, the Throne Hall, and the Arch Hall. The building transitioned from a fortress to a palace during the 15th and 16th centuries under Bishops Boil and Margarit, who added Renaissance windows and constructed the new wing connecting the older sections. The palace was even occupied by military forces for two years during the Reapers War around 1640, and in 1756 it hosted Pope Benedict XIV. Several original spaces, including the episcopal prison and the majestic garden, remain preserved within the museum today.

The museum is located at Pujada de la Catedral, 12, 17004 Girona, Spain. It is jointly owned by the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Girona. From May to September, the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, and Sundays and bank holidays from 10:00 to 14:00. From October to April, weekday hours shift to 10:00 to 18:00, with Sunday hours remaining 10:00 to 14:00. The museum is closed on Mondays, as well as January 1 and 6, and December 25 and 26, with reduced hours on specific eves. Standard admission is 7 euros, with a reduced rate of 5 euros for seniors, students, and youth card holders. Admission is free for visitors under 16, the unemployed, and on the first Sunday of every month. The museum also manages two additional spaces in the Mercadal quarter, including the former hospital pharmacy and the chapel housing El gran dia de Girona, which now serves as the Auditorium Josep Irla of the Government of Catalonia.