MAMAC's architecture looms over Nice; photo by abragad

Nice is a happening summer destination, but all that beach time can get hot, hot, hot! When you need a break from the heat, step on into the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) for a cool respite full of beautiful, mind expanding art—and all for free!

What’s on?

The Musée switches up its offerings annually giving each group of artists it showcases a good, long run. Current exhibits include a retrospective of the work of Robert Longo, and the paintings of Djamel Tatah. Past exhibitions have featured artists like Michel Gérard and Denis Castellas. Be sure to check out the museum’s spectacular structure too, a dream-come-true for architects Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal. For more information, visit the museum’s web site (exhibit info only in French).

If you go-

The Musée is located in central Nice on the Promenade des Arts, near the Garibaldi tram stop. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (closed Mondays) except on holidays. Entrance into the museum and gallery is free of charge. Guided tours are €5, €2.50 reduced and occur daily at 3 PM.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Photo by Niclas

By Amy K. Goemans—

Amsterdam is a city of frugality. So, it makes sense that indulging in the art scene or soaking up a bit of sun here doesn’t have to involve a hefty price tag.  In fact, it doesn’t involve a price at all.

Here are a few of my favorite FREE things to do in Amsterdam.

1) A walk, skate,  or museum visit, in the park…

Just south of the Leidseplein, you’ll find Vondelpark, a beautiful park nestled among the gray, towering blocks in Amsterdam’s city center.  Named for a famous poet, the space benefits from a location close to all the major museums and is a great place to stop after a busy day spent exploring the city.

Hundreds of acres of land are sprinkled with thriving greenery, colorful blooms, and the occasional wildlife (read: ducks, swans). Best of all? This urban oasis is FREE and open to the public every day of the year.

What to see and do: The National Film Museum, a treasure trove of more than 30,000 films, will wow eager art fans who will be tempted to stop and catch a screening. Playgrounds abound in Vondelpark, making it a delight for traveling family groups. You can rent a pair of skates from Snoephuisje (Vondelpark, 7) if you are up for some fun and games or just bring along a blanket and goodies for an idyllic picnic in the sun. And of course, summertime brings in numerous free concerts in the park’s quaint Open Air Theater.

Opening Hours: Daily (9 AM to 5 PM)

2) Narrowest house in the world?

Rather than visiting the high-profile tourist spots, wouldn’t it be more exciting to check out one of those little known record-breaking monuments? How about something quirky or innovative, something that made a mark above all its more glamorous peers? Well, this is one of those fascinating sites, and it’s FREE to enter and explore.

Photo by Welovepandas.

At Singel #7 (just off of the Singel Canal), barely reaching one meter in breadth, this house is definitely one of the narrowest in the world. Admittedly, it’s the entrance that boasts the most tiny proportions; the rest of the house is pretty run-of-the-mill. Nonetheless, it’s worth checking out.  And, hey, you could always stay at the Liberty Hotel (next door at #5) and snap some photos from your room.

Cheapo tip: If this topic continues to fascinate you, head over to Oude Hoogstraat, 22 which is also queuing up for the narrowest house title.

3) Statue-yes-que!

Amsterdam’s rich historical background is evident in a variety of city landmarks; no need to dish out oodles of cash for a bit of Dutch culture. Most landmarks signify amazing turning points in human history too, so catching a glimpse of them is certainly worth a jaunt. Here are three must-sees:

The Spinoza statue, located outside Amsterdam’s City Hall, is a requisite for history buffs. Dedicated to the renowned philosopher by the same name, the statue is a tribute to a great thinker of our time. Do snap a shot of the phrase near the statue: ‘The purpose of the State is freedom.’

Situated in the midst of Dam Square, the Dutch National Monument is a towering symbol dedicated to loved ones lost during World War II. A worthy testament.

Finally, in 2007, a bronze statue depicting a female prostitute was placed in Oudekerksplein, in front of the Oude Kerk.  As is the custom in Amsterdam, the sculpture aims to show respect for all those who choose prostitution as their line of work.

Popularity: 8% [?]

By Bill Sinclair in Barcelona—

Barcelona is a treasure trove of art and architecture—and free champagne.  No, seriously. Tag along on our gallery tour and you’ll experience some very cool art while clinking a glass or two of free Catalan cava or French champagne.

Let’s go!

Sala Parés
Calle de Petritxol 5, 08002

The best time to check out Sala Parés is on a Thursday afternoon, say around 7 PM.  Located off Calle de Petritxol, a narrow street lined with galleries that runs parallel to Las Ramblas (Metro Liceu – Line 3- Green line), the space was founded in 1840 and is the oldest public commercial art gallery in Europe. In fact, it staged a young Picasso’s first public exhibition in 1901.

The gallery has three exhibition spaces showing off current work and pieces from 19th- and 20th-century collections. Time your drop-in right and you can catch an opening of recent work by one of the gallery’s esteemed stable of artists. For opening, the staff will—you guessed it!—be serving free cava and chilled white wine.

OK, keep up. Put that glass down – we’re off to the next stop…

Gracia Arts Project
Calle Sant Honorat, 11, 08002

To get from the oldest gallery to one of the city’s newest, stroll across the Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol onto Calle Banys Nous (and its antique shops), and turn onto Calle del Call, at the heart of what used to be the medieval city’s Jewish quarter. Finally, turn left onto Calle Sant Honorat, adjacent to the Generalitat (Catalonia’s government HQ), and—bingo!—you’ve found Gracia Arts Project.

Founded just two years ago, the G.A.P. is a small, friendly gallery showcasing fresh, vibrant works by an energetic, polyglot collective of Barcelona-based artists and designers. Again, if you attend on an opening night, you can snag another free glass of cava.

We’d better get out of here before it gets crowded – and it does get crowded.

La Pedrera
Passeig de Gràcia

From G.A.P., it’s just a short walk to Via Laietana to catch the Metro (Line 4 – Yellow line) two stops to Passeig de Gràcia and over to Gaudì’s famous apartment building, La Pedrera.

Avoid the line for basic tours of the apartment building and head directly through the large ironwork gates on the corner, and up the beautifully decorated stairway (pictured at left) to the free exhibition space. Here, you can typically catch an expertly curated retrospective by an overlooked European artist, circa the 1920s or 30s.

No free drinks here today, but free exhibition notes in English abound. Make sure you look around at the details in Gaudì’s molded ceilings and columns.

Ready? Time to go. The exhibition closes at 8 PM here. Last stop…

MiTO
Calle Rosellò, 193, 08036

Finally, we’re off to MiTO, a gallery just one block up and four blocks over from Gaudì’s apartment, in the heart of Eixample.

Time it right and arrive by 8:20 PM to catch another fun opening.  The place is usually packed with a good mix of artists, buyers, collectors, curators and critics, and two very welcoming hosts, Joaquim and Alfredo, who like to serve up free Piper Heidsieck French champagne and snacks.

The work here at MiTO is cutting edge. Work is created by known international artists from cities like New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Valencia (to name a few).

Also at MiTO, help yourself to a few free catalogues of previous shows. I recommend Brian Dettmer’s The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a beautifully crafted “look-book” filled with some incredible stuff.  They are all neatly stacked on shelves near the glass entrance door.

What did you think?

Did you enjoy the tour? Four very different art spaces, two centuries of art, and six centuries of architecture (not to mention free cava and champagne) in two hours before dinner, and all for free!  Nice way to work up an appetite, don’t you think? Let us know in the comment section below.

About the author: Born next door to an infamous London prison, Bill Sinclair has been on the run ever since. He now resides in Barcelona where he works as a writer, translator and independent visitor guide.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The scene between gates E and F at Schiphol. (Photo by Grumbler)

Editor’s Note: Pete and Meredith just spent a long weekend in Amsterdam. This is the first of several posts from their recent journey.

Homeward bound

You know the scene, Cheapos. It was a bleary day in Amsterdam and we were a bit veklempt about bidding farewell to all the old school bicycles, chocolate with our morning coffee, and gorgeous canal views, but alas…it was time to return to New York.

A heavy fog loomed over the city causing airport delays. We were in a fog of our own, after multiple nights out on the town, days spent roaming the streets, and a less-than-friendly sleeping arrangement due to a hotel room that was directly under a construction site (but more on that later!).

Happy trails

So we were overjoyed to end up in the middle of gates E and F in the international departures terminal at Schiphol Airport where we could take our good ol’ time browsing the drawings and paintings of Dutch masters like van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Peter Paul Rubens.

Earlier, we had read and even blogged about the free art on display. We were also pretty well aware of the lay-out and comforts that Amsterdam’s well-known airport offers its drifters.

Private collection

We had the gallery to ourselves and spent about 30-minutes combing the exposition, feeling particularly smitten by the watercolors. All in all, a terrific idea. Free art while you wait to take-off. When we finally settled into our seats on a KLM Royal Dutch flight we felt properly cultured, and even watched half of Wall-e in Dutch. (Did somebody say roboten?)

Need to know…

The exhibit, comprised of about a dozen works of art, is sponsored by the Rijksmuseum and ING and focuses mainly on what the Dutch tend to refer to as their “Golden Age” of art, i.e. stuff produced during most of the 17th-century. Visit Schiphol’s Rijksmuseum site for opening and closing times, directions to the terminal, and more.

Popularity: 11% [?]

If you can pull your gaze from the winding canals and floating gondolas, you’ll find there’s plenty of art to see in Venice. Many of the Italian masters, including Titian, Tintoretto, and Giorgione, have artwork on display around the city.

While the biggest museums, such as the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Ca’ d’Oro charge anywhere from €2.50 to €6.50 for admission, Venetian churches (many of which still hold daily mass) are treasure troves of free art.

Art history at the Chiesa di San Moise

The Chiesa di San Moise, in Venice’s San Marco neighborhood, is a particularly worthwhile example. Built in the 8th-Century, this church has had enough time to acquire extravagant baroque touches-and it shows! Highlights include:

• Facade: Outside, covering the facade, you’ll find a line-up of worthy cherubs and statues.
• Statues: Inside, San Moise is decked out with busts of Italian aristocrats, Tintoretto’s “La Lavanda dei Piedi,” and bronze angels.
• Alter: A depiction of Moses on Mount Sinai graces the altar.
• Organ: An 18th century-organ is occasionally opened for public recitals.

Not bad for one church!

Visiting the church

The Chiesa di San Moise is open daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The church is reachable by vaporetto stop San Marco del Giglio (Line 1). Check out the official site for more info. 

Also see: Our recommended budget hotels in Venice.

Popularity: 12% [?]

While visiting Munich, take a break from Wagner and the Biergarten by visiting the Frauenkirche, one of Bavaria’s most beloved Gothic structures. The Frauenkirche (”Cathedral of Our Lady”), a Catholic church located near the city’s Marienplatz square, sports twin domed towers and expansive vaulted ceilings. What’s more, admission is free!

Quick History

Munich’s Frauenkirche has been “in service” since 1488, although bombings during World War II destroyed much of its original facade. The interior boasts paintings spanning five centuries, along with the tomb of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria and other items of interest. (For example, a mark on the church’s floor, known as the Teufelschritt, is said to be the devil’s footprint!)

Visiting the Frauenkirche

The cathedral is open daily, although visits are not permitted during services. (Take the advice of our friends at hidden europe magazine, however, and take part in a service!) The church offers guided tours starting at 2 PM every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Visitors can climb the towers for a great view, May through October.

For more information, check out the Munich Tourism Board’s official site and the section on the Frauenkirche (more detailed information is available on the site, in German). 

Popularity: 11% [?]