Located in the heart of Barcelona, this intriguing museum showcases the famous art collection of Francisco Godia Sales, the Catalan art lover and entrepreneur. It's one of the greatest displays in the country. Godia (1921-90) combined a desire for art with a head for business and a passion for motor racing. When he wasn't driving fast ("the most wonderful thing in the world"), he was amassing his collection. In gathering these treasures he showed exquisite taste and great sensitivity. He collected a splendid array of medieval sculpture and ceramics but showed a keener instinct for purchasing great paintings. Godia acquired works by some of the most important artists of the 20th century, including Julio González, María Blanchard, Joan Ponç, Antoni Tàpies, and Manolo Hugué, the latter a great friend of Picasso. From its earliest stages, Godia realized the artistic importance of Catalan modernisme and collected works by sculptors like Josep Llimona and celebrated moderniste painters Santiago Rusiñol and Ramon Casas. Godia also dipped deeper into the past, acquiring works, for example, of two of the most important artists of the 17th century: Jacob van Ruysdael and Luca Giordano.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Barcelona, 3rd Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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