Inside the former home of a 16th-century nobleman in Zaragoza's old town, visit the Goya Museum. This important cultural institution is dedicated to the life and work of Francisco Goya, a renowned Spanish romantic painter from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Tour exhibition halls to see Goya's paintings and etchings as well as works by some of the legendary artist's contemporaries and followers.
The museum’s exhibits are spread across five floors. Start in the basement level for audiovisual presentations that provide an introduction to Goya and how he looked at and interpreted his surroundings. There are also some Roman remains on this level.
Browse the temporary exhibitions on the first floor then go up to the next level for a collection of Spanish baroque religious paintings. Spend some time in Goya Hall on the third floor for several of his works, including The Glory which features angels, musicians and singers on clouds praising the Glory of God. View the first known self-portrait of the artist which was painted around 1775.
Also on this floor is the complete series of Goya's etchings. They include Los Caprichos, a collection of 80 prints in which the artist criticizes the clergy and nobility, the Inquisition, vice, corruption and the poor education of most Spanish children.
Head up to the fourth floor to browse the work of 19th-century Spanish artists who were inspired by Goya. Other highlights include landscape paintings by Spanish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among them is Shepherdesses on Mount by the Zaragozan painter Mariano Barbasán Lagueruela.
The Goya Museum is located in Zaragoza's old town, close to the Plaza Santa Cruz and the Plaza del Pilar. Parking is available for a fee along surrounding streets or in parking garages. Alternatively, travel here by bus or tram.
The museum is open daily except for December 25, January 1 and January 6. There is an admission charge, but free entry is available on the second Sunday of each month and on select days during the year such as Museum Day on May 18. Visit the Goya Museum's official website for more details.