Sundowner: Autumn/Winter 2019

ESPACIO CULTURAL ZULOAGA,
ZUMAIA, NEAR SAN SEBASTIAN
A few miles along the coast from San Sebastian lies the village of
Zumaia – home of the great 20th-century Basque painter Ignacio
Zuloaga (1870-1945). In this lonely, peaceful place, he established
his family home and a cultural centre, designed to promote his
native art and culture. Today, the centre aims to teach younger
generations about the importance of Zuloaga’s work in the context
of his contemporaries and those who came after him. The area
might also be familiar to fans of television series Game of Thrones,
who can walk in the footsteps of Daenerys Targaryen on the shores
of ‘Westeros’.
A&K INSIDER ACCESS: A&K can offer guests the
opportunity to take a private tour of the museum. During your visit
to Zuloaga’s home, you can absorb the display of his own paintings,
which sit alongside his personal collection, including minor works
by El Greco and Goya. Then continue your day sightseeing in the
other charming villages surrounding San Sebastian.
SPAIN
MUSEO NACIONAL THYSSEN-
BORNEMISZA, MADRID
The magnificent Thyssen-Bornemisza, boasting almost 1,000
paintings and regarded as one of the most important privately
assembled art collections in the world, offers art lovers an
experience that is nothing short of extraordinary. The museum’s
permanent collection provides an overview of art from the 13th
to late 20th centuries in a series of snapshots touching on the
work of Hopper, Caravaggio, Sargent, Gauguin, Mondrian,
van Eyck, and scores of others. Among its masterpieces are
Hans Holbein the Younger’s iconic Portrait of Henry VIII and
Rubens’ Venus and Cupid.
A&K INSIDER ACCESS: Introduce your entire family
to the glories of painting when you embark on a treasure hunt
organised by a specialist A&K guide. Explore the secrets of some
of the museum’s most famous works, following clues which lead
you through the evolution of painting over seven centuries.
Engaging and stimulating, it’s an activity ideal for young,
inquisitive minds.
MUSEO SOROLLA, MADRID
Originally the house and studio of Spain’s greatest late 19th- and
early 20th-century painter, this museum is dedicated to the life
and work of Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923). It houses an eclectic
collection, including paintings by family members, his daughter
Elena among them. Although his work is sometimes compared to
that of Sargent, Sorolla does not belong to any specific school; and
the house also contains pieces by the old masters who inspired him.
The galleries also host special exhibitions by current artists. As a
result, Museo Sorolla presents a fascinating journey through Spain’s
history of art.
A&K INSIDER ACCESS: Off the beaten track for most
visitors to Madrid, you won’t be overrun by tourists as you wander
the Sorolla’s light-filled spaces. Continue with your A&K guide
to the Museo del Romanticismo, a unique time capsule of art,
furniture, and style from across the 19th century, and one
of Madrid’s true hidden treasures.
opposite page from top: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao at dusk, Getty;
Woman with Yellow Hair by Pablo Picasso; Museu Picasso, Barcelona
this page from top: Woman in Bath, Roy Lichtenstein, at the
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein;
Sala II at the Museo Sorolla
CONTACT ABERCROMBIE & KENT
For more information, or to book your next cultural
odyssey to visit Spain’s great musuems and galleries,
contact our Europe travel specialists on 01242 547 703.
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