Where is the Guernica painting? As the Mona Lisa, The Lord's Supper of Leonardo or Munch's Scream, the painting Guernica is one of the most famous works in the world but most people don't know where it is.
In this article, you will find out which museum houses the most famous painting by Pablo Picasso. I am also attaching a map to easily find the room where Guernica is located in this museum. Finally, I will give you some tips for visiting.
Where is the Guernica painting today?
After its first appearance at the International Exhibition in Paris in 1937, Guernica was kept until 1981 at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. Then it was exhibited in Spain at the Prado Museum in Madrid until 1992.
Today, in 2023, the Guernica painting is in the Reina Sofia Museum Madrid.
Go to the Reina Sofia Museum to see Guernica
The Reina Sofia Museum is located on Calle de Santa Isabel in the center of Madrid.
To see the Guernica painting at Reina Sofia Museum, you will be able :
- take metro line 1 and get off at the “Estación Del Arte” station near the Atocha train station,
- take a bus (6 – 59 – 85 – E1 – N14) and get off at the Reina Sofía stop – Stop number: 1167.
Where is Guernica in the Reina Sofia Museum?
When you arrive at the Reina Sofia Museum, you will have access to the collections through 2 entrances:
- Sabatini building
- New building
The room of Picasso's Guernica painting is in the Sabatini building of the Reina Sofia Museum.
In which room is Guernica at the Reina Sofia Museum?
The painting Guernica by Picasso is in room 205.10 on the 2nd floor in the Sabatini building. It is part of the Museum's No. 1 collection: “Avant-garde Territories – City, Architecture and Magazines.
See on the map below where the yellow arrow indicates room 205.10.
How to discover the Guernica painting?
To discover the Guernica painting but also other masterful works by artists such as Joan Miró, Juan Gris or Salvador Dalí, you can:
- Buy your ticket on site at the Museum ticket office or
- Book a skip-the-line ticket that will save you time:
With the price of your ticket, you can sign up for a guided tour of the Guernica painting. See details on the official website museoreinasofia.es
Also note that admission is free on:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 19:00 p.m. to 21:00 p.m..
- Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 14:30 p.m.
You still have to go to the ticket office to get the free tickets.
Why did Picasso paint the painting Guernica?
In 1937, in the midst of the Spanish Civil War between the Nationalists and the Republicans, Pablo Picasso was living in Paris. The Spanish Republic then made a special request to him. He was asked to paint a work that would represent Spain at the Universal Exhibition in Paris which was to be held from May to November 1937.
On the orders of Franco, on April 26, 1937, the small town of Guernica was bombarded by the German and Italian air forces (Legion Condor). It was a real massacre that caused more than 1600 civilian victims and almost 900 wounded.
It is this tragic event that touched and bereaved all Spaniards that inspired Pablo Picasso for his commission for the Paris Exhibition. By painting this bombing scene, Picasso wanted to denounce the horrors of war which kills innocent people.
Does Guernica still exist?
Yes the city of Guernica still exists in the North of Spain. The city had been almost completely razed but is now being rebuilt.
Fortunately, the city of Guernica still retains two symbols of its sad history: La Casa de Juntas (House of Assemblies) and the Tree of Guernica. These two sites represent the identity and culture of the Basque people of the inhabitants of Guernica.
Where is the town of Guernica located?
The town of Guernica is located in the Spanish Basque country, 30 kilometers from Bilbao in northern Spain.
How to visit Guernica?
To visit the city of Guernica, I recommend a private tour:
On this private tour of Guernica, you will discover the streets of this famous city, a center of Basque history, culture and politics, with a guide who will be exclusively for you.
You'll also learn about the history and background of one of Pablo Picasso's most important paintings, whose work has become a symbol of peace around the world!
Da non perdere assolutamente!