It houses an extensive collection of artworks by the twentieth-century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, with a total of 4251 of his works.

It is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces on Montcada Street in the La Ribera neighborhood in the Old City of Barcelona.

[5] The museum opened under the name of the Sabartés Collection, because of Picasso's strong opposition to Franco's regime.

In the end, Barcelona mayor Josep Porcioles went against the wishes of the central government in order to open the museum.

Opened in 1999, this new extension added 3,400 square meters to the museum, serving as a space for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, and additional services.

The extension was opened with the temporary exhibition Picasso: Interior and Exterior Landscape, with more than 200 works by the artist created between 1917 and 1970.

[7] Serra has since established a network of organizations associated with Picasso, including the City of Gósol, the Centre Picasso of Horta de Sant Joan and Palau Foundation in Caldes d'Estrac, with the central aim of promoting the position of the artist by the Catalan territory.

[citation needed] In 2010 the museum began a project to improve its active presence in social networks such as Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook.

[8][9] The museum's social media projects promote participatory discussion around the institution's research and knowledge.

[citation needed] The building was designed by the architect Jordi Garcés, who had completed the previous expansion of the museum.

Each of the 5 buildings are built following a similar pattern, around a courtyard equipped with an exterior staircase that allows access to the main floors.

It was purchased in 1386 by the bourgeois family Corominas-Desplà, who then sold it fourteen years later to Berenguer Aguilar, from which the palace is named.

Later owners included several members of the Catalan bourgeoisie prior to the building's purchase by the city council on 3 November 1953.

[13] A large fresco representing the conquest of Majorca in 1229, the work is made up of cauldrons and roses, which suggest that the palace belonged to the lineage Caldes and Desvalls.

Upon the death of the Baron, the building was bequeathed to the Hospital of the Holy Cross, who rented it to different tenants until they sold it to the Rivers family.

The palace was built around a central courtyard and includes on its facade a relief from the 16th century that depicts religious themes.

The interior's main floor is in the neo-classical style of the mid-18th century, including elements of marble and polychrome reliefs.

[citation needed] Casa Mauri (Montcada, 21) includes some structures that date from Roman times, when the space was occupied by the suburbs of Barcino.

[citation needed] The Palau Finestres (Montcada, 23) was built on the foundations of a building dating to the 13th century and occupies a former Roman necropolis.

In 1872, the owner of Casa Mauri, Jose Vidal Torres, bought the building in order to annex it to his home.

[citation needed] The Knowledge and Research Center was opened on 17 February, a new building located in Plaza Sabartés that was designed by architect Jordi Garcés.

Jordi Garcés, who already performed the previous expansion of the museum,[15] designed the 1500 square meter building with a transparent glass facade protected by a cantilever.

Most of the paintings on display at the museum are from the period between 1890 and 1917, an important collection in regard to that portion of Picasso's life.

The collection also includes illustrations made by the artist for various books, as well as ceramics gifted to the museum by Picasso's widow, Jacqueline.