From childhood to cubism: on the Picasso travel trail in Spain and France

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the artist’s death. Here are seven great spots to commemorate his work

Picasso would often tell his children, “I want Málaga to have a large museum with my works” and his wish came true, for balmy sea-facing Málaga now has a splendid museum, soon to stage an exhibition focusing on the body as an instrument of the artist. The sculptures displayed cover the many styles and materials Picasso adopted to express the human form. After exploring the artist’s three-dimensional oeuvre, uncover the places he frequented. Although he never returned after the Civil War, Málaga left a lasting impression on him. With an expert guide you can visit Casa Natal Picasso, Pablo’s birthplace home (now an educational foundation staging exhibitions), his nursery school, then his father’s workshop and his baptism church. Picasso Sculptor: Matter and Body runs from 8 May to 10 September 2023 (museopicassomalaga.org); Tours by Locals start at £42pp (toursbylocals.com/picasso-and-old-malaga); stay at Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro (parador.es), double rooms from £114.