Museum Barrau – One of Ibiza’s most hidden artistic treasures

Known by many as the ‘island of light’, Ibiza has, for many years, been a popular destination for artists, who are attracted to the island simply because of its stunning clarity of air. Because of it being a long-established haven for artists, Ibiza boasts many a hidden artistic treasure, including the artwork of Lareano Barrau.

In 1920 the Spanish impressionist painter Lareano Barrau, moved to Ibiza, lured by the island’s natural beauty and charm, where he settled in the town of Santa Eulalia, swearing that he would remain there for the rest of his life.

During his time spent living on Ibiza, Barrau considered the pictures that he painted here as being the best that he had ever created, a statement that do doubt influenced many an artist to flock to Ibiza to also be inspired by the ‘island of light’.

Barrau died in 1957 and his body has rested in a vault in the cemetery of Santa Eulalia. On a hill near to the town there is a 400-year church and next to the church a quaint little art museum can be found which houses more than 200 of the famous impressionist painter’s paintings.

Known as the Barrau Museum, this tiny whitewashed hillside museum was inaugurated in 1963, when Lareano Barrau’s wife, who had created the museum, gave it to the town. The museum has, in recent years, been in a dispute over whether its contents belong to the town of Santa Eulalia or the church of which it is nestled against.

Although regardless of who owns its contents, a visit to the Barrau Museum is highly recommended and makes a remarkably interesting day out on the island of Ibiza.