Review: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

Give us the wide-angle view: what's this place all about?
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA) is in upscale Recoleta, just a few blocks away from the cemetery, and located on one of the longest avenues in the city, Libertador. The fine arts museum dates back to 1896 and focuses mostly on 19th-century European art, including 700 major works from artists like Goya, Van Gogh, and Toulouse Lautrec—though from afar, it's recognized by its pink exterior facade, which is similar to that of the Casa Rosada (Presidential Pink House). It's the most well-known museum in the country.

Wow—sounds amazing. What kind of art will we see?
The Bellas Artes holds the largest collection of Argentine art in the world, with works from the Middle Ages up through current times (international artists are featured, too). There are more than 12 rooms with permanent exhibits, including European art from the 16th-17th centuries, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artwork, 18th-century French furniture, and sculptures dating back to 600 A.D.

Now I'm dying to go—but is there ever anything new, or different?
Temporary exhibits include masterworks from the Renaissance to Romanticism, in conjunction with the Hungarian National Gallery Collection. On a recent visit, we saw the work of 89-year-old Argentine artist Guillermo Roux, whose exhibit, Diario Gráfico, features a selection of ballpoint pen drawings.

Who else will we see here?
As the most famous museum in Buenos Aires (which also happens to be free), Bellas Artes draws quite the mixed crowd. Here you'll see all sorts of museumgoers, from art obsessors to tourists checking the museum off their to-do travel list.

On the practical side, how were facilities?
The museum is equipped for people with mobility issues, something that can be hard to find in Buenos Aires.

Any tips for how to tackle all this great stuff?
There’s a lot to see, so it makes sense to tackle the museum strategically, and with a guide. Artist Germán Warszatska leads free English tours on Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1 p.m.

If we're short on time, what should we prioritize, if anything?
Head to the permanent exhibit on the first floor and check out the 19th-century European art, which many experts consider the most important collection in South America. Here, you'll find pieces by El Greco, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Monet. Museum-goers can also find 19th- and 20th-century Argentine and Latin American art on the first floor, too, with the earliest piece dating back to the Pre-Columbian era.