ROYAL PALACE OF PEDRALBES

The Royal Palace of Pedralbes accommodated the Spanish Royal family during the International Exhibition of 1929. After 1939 it was used by Franco and then royalty and heads of state, before being opened to the public in 1960, along with the stately gardens. Today the state rooms house two museums. The Museu de Ceramica traces the development of Spanish ceramics from the 12th century onwards, and includes the 18^th century Catalan panels La Cursa de Braus (the Bullfight) and La Xocolotada (The Chocolate Party), together with works by Picasso and Miro. The Museu de les Arts Decoratives has an impressive collection of decorative arts from the early Middle Ages to the present day. Special emphasis is placed on 20^th century developments, from Modernisme to Functionalism and Minimalism.