Goya Museum of Zaragoza

The Goya Museum of Zaragoza: A Visit to Incomparable Art

The new Goya Museum of Zaragoza opened its doors in 2015, although its origins date back to 1979. It is a reference center for the works of Francisco de Goya in Aragon. It is located inside the Renaissance palace of the Pardo family, situated on Espoz y Mina Street in the old town, very close to Santa Cruz Square and just a few meters from Pilar Square.

The museum houses 500 works, 39 of which are newly acquired. Among them, it is worth highlighting 15 of the many works that Goya created throughout his life, in addition to the complete collections of his engravings, accompanied by pieces by authors before, contemporary to, and after the artist. It is the only Goya museum in the world that has in its permanent collection all the complete series of the most universal Aragonese painter who has ever existed.

In 1979, the Aragonese José Camón Aznar inaugurated the museum that bore his name, the "Camón Aznar Museum," in which he exhibited his private collection of works, which also included paintings by Goya. In 2015, with the aim of disseminating and studying the figure of Goya, the current museum that you can visit today was definitively inaugurated. Its full name is Goya Museum. Ibercaja Collection-Camón Aznar Museum.

Discover the Incomparable Figure of the Aragonese Painter and Engraver

At the Goya Museum, you can immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the famous painter Francisco de Goya. In 1746, Goya was born in Fuendetodos, a small town located 40 km from the capital of Zaragoza. He was the son of a very famous artisan who did important works such as the choir grille of the Church of San Pablo. At just 5 years old, he began to stand out in painting, and at 13, he entered the Drawing Academy of Zaragoza, directed by José Luzán. He completed his training in Madrid with Francisco Bayeu, who opened the way for him to become the official royal painter of Charles IV in 1789. At that time, Goya painted his famous paintings "La maja vestida" and "La maja desnuda," where he portrayed the Duchess of Alba.

In 1808, in the midst of war, Goya traveled to Zaragoza at the request of General Palafox, who commissioned him to immortalize the ruins of the city and the pain suffered by the people of Zaragoza. From that commission came his series of engravings "The Disasters of War," which are in the exhibition of this museum. After the Spanish War, Goya's life entered its darkest stage; an illness left him deaf. Thus, his early works full of romanticism and joy gave way to others full of strange and terrifying creatures.

In 1828, Goya died in Bordeaux after falling down some stairs shortly after learning that he had a tumor. After his death, he became the most famous artist in 18th-century Spain. Goya was the most important European artist of his time and the one who exerted the greatest influence on the subsequent evolution of contemporary painting. Moreover, his last works are considered precursors of Impressionism.

Plan Your Next Visit to the Goya Museum

From the collection of the Goya Museum of Zaragoza, composed of 500 works, you can visit 15 essential works and 48 other outstanding ones distributed across the following floors:

1st Floor: Goya's Antecedents

In this area, you can contemplate Baroque works by Aragonese painters such as Berdusán and Aybar, as well as other painters from whom Goya was inspired in his youth and who were a reference and starting point for the artist.

2nd Floor: Goya Room

In this room, you can admire paintings such as his Self-Portrait, the sketch of the Dos de Mayo, and Masked Dance under an Arch.

2nd Floor: Goya's Engravings

The room where you can enjoy the complete series of engravings by the Aragonese painter. He was a reference in engraving techniques, as he demonstrated in some of his collections: The Disasters of War, The Caprichos, La Tauromaquia, The Bulls of Bordeaux, and The Disparates or Proverbs.

3rd Floor: Goya's Legacy

After the work that Goya left as a legacy, countless imitators and followers of his art appeared. This area of the Goya Museum of Zaragoza is dedicated to some of them.

Among others, you can contemplate works by other 19th-century Aragonese painters influenced by Goya, such as Pradilla, Unceta, and Barbasán, and a selection of 19th-century Spanish landscape painting.

If you plan to visit the Goya Museum, you may want to check its hours beforehand:

It is closed on Mondays.
From Tuesday to Saturday, it is open from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Sundays and holidays, it opens from 10 am to 2 pm.
December 24 and 31, it is open from 10 am to 2 pm.
It is closed on December 25, January 1, and January 6.

On the first Wednesdays of each month and on some important dates, you can access the Goya Museum of Zaragoza with free admission. Additionally, some groups, such as young people, those under 16, or those over 65, can benefit from a reduced price.

The Goya Museum of Zaragoza offers the possibility of taking a guided group tour of the site, which lasts 60 minutes.

Also, this museum organizes courses and workshops to do with the family and bring Goya's work closer to children.

If you are an art lover and a fan of Francisco de Goya's work, this visit to the Goya Museum is incomparable to others.

Other visits of great tourist attraction are the Cathedral of Zaragoza, Pilar Square, the Main Theater, the Auditorium of Zaragoza, El Tubo, the Central Market, the Bullring, the Grand Park, Spain Square of Zaragoza, or the Stone Museum, among others.

Are you looking for a hotel in Zaragoza to visit the Goya Museum on your next trip? In that case, three welcoming B&B HOTELS in Zaragoza are waiting for you to fully enjoy your stay in the Aragonese capital at affordable prices.

You will feel at home from the moment you arrive at any B&B HOTELS. We are waiting for you!

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