A Guide To Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires

Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo
Tenissa
Tenissa 
Published
| 3 min read

When talking about having a vacation in Buenos Aires, you do not want to miss visits to the museums. There are plenty of museums that are worth exploring in the city, and one of them is Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, or the National Museum of Decorative Art. Formerly a residential building that belonged to one of the richest families in Argentina, it has become a beautiful museum whose neo-classical architecture will never cease to charm you. Built between 1911 and 1916, the museum houses collections that were owned by the family. But, you can also enjoy other exhibitions that include antiques, miniature art objects, furniture from the 18th century, porcelains, and tapestries. To help you navigate your way to explore the museum and to know what to expect, keep reading this in-depth guide to Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires.

Things to do / highlights

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo - Nuestros Museos, en la Noche de los Museos (22650413122)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ministerio de Cul... used under CC BY-SA 2.0

You may not have time to explore every single thing that is displayed at the museum. If this is the case, just make sure that you do not miss the highlights.

Central Hall

The Central Hall is a must for everyone. You will love the marvelous Gothic style and the wood panels. The massive hall is sometimes used for concerts, temporary exhibitions, workshops, and seminars, among others. You will also be amazed by the majestic staircase. If you are familiar with the history of England, when you set foot in the hall, you will be reminded of the time of the Tudor dynasty.

Dining Room and Ballroom

Both the dining room and ballroom are opulent and they have all the chandeliers and decorations from the 18th and 19th centuries. The rooms will remind you of the majestic Palace of Versailles.

Permanent exhibitions

The permanent exhibitions are the heart of the museum and there are more than 4,000 exhibits on display. Favorites of the tourists include the gorgeous Roman sculptures, Chinese jades and vases from the Qianlong period, paintings and sculptures from the 16th century to the 19th century and contemporary handmade creations that are mainly made of silver.

Temporary exhibitions

The museum is also known to host several temporary exhibitions all year round. You are recommended to visit the temporary exhibitions because the next time you visit the museum, they may not be there. The temporary exhibitions mainly focus on decorative art pieces, jewelry, tapestries, and smaller objects.

French-style garden

The museum is about exploring the inside of the building as well as the outside of the building. Do not forget to take a leisurely walk around the French-style garden that is as imposing as it can be. The garden used to serve as an extension of the reception halls, which were not large enough to accommodate a lot of guests.

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Travelers tips

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo - Nuestros Museos, en la Noche de los Museos
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ministerio de Cul... used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Relish brunch at the outside cafe

After you finish touring every corner of the huge museum, you should not leave right away. Instead, make a stop at the cafe that is located outside the museum. Here, you can relax for a bit while indulging in a delicious Tostado brunch. Or, afternoon tea would be a great idea too, especially if you come during the summer months when the weather can be sizzling hot. You should also try the delectable creme brulee.

Be mindful of your surrounding

While enjoying some artsy time as you admire all the collections at the museum, you should always stay vigilant and be mindful of your surrounding. The museum is a famous tourist attraction and it can be packed with a lot of tourists. You should never leave your bag open and carry it on your back. Pickpockets are smart and they may target you as their next victim if you are not careful.

Take a guided tour

If you want to gain more insights into the history of the museum and its collections, you should take a guided tour in English, which is available from Tuesday to Friday at 1:30 pm.

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How to get there

Buenos Aires - Terminal de ómnibus de Retiro
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Beatrice Murch used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Private taxi

As in many other countries around the world, one of the best and most convenient ways to travel around an unfamiliar destination is on a private taxi. Since the taxi drivers are local people, they are knowledgeable about most of the local tourist attractions, especially the popular ones. Simply let your taxi driver know that you want to get to the museum and just enjoy the views along the way.

Public bus

This method of transportation is for those who want to know more about the culture and lifestyle of the local people. These bus routes will take you right to or a few steps away from the museum: 10, 21, 37, 38, 41, 59, 60, 67, 92, 93, 95, 102, 110, 118, 130.

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Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo information

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roberto Fiadone used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo

Address: Av. del Libertador 1902, C1425 CABA, Argentina

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 12:30pm - 7pm (closed on Mon)

Cost: Free

Official website: Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo

Department of tourism: Visit Buenos Aires

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Tenissa is a content writer, translator and editor. She enjoys being a globetrotter and has traveled to many countries around the world. So far, her favourite destination is Switzerland. She looks...Read more

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