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Madrid museums and exhibitions

Museums & Exhibitions Madrid

Museums in Madrid are some of the best in the world. Whether you want to check out Spanish classics at El Prado Museum, contemporary art at the Reina Sofía Museum, or a bit of both worlds at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, our comprehensive guide to museums in Madrid will give you an informative overview.

Not only are the museums in Madrid impressive and numerous, the “big three” consisting of the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornamisza are located in the same area. This zone, sometimes called the “Golden Triangle of Art”, is surrounded by parks, monuments, cafes and restaurants enabling you to link activities easily.

Museo Nacional del Prado
Address: Paseo del Prado (no street number)
Hours: 9-20:00 Tues to Sun and public holidays
9-14:00 on 24 & 31 Dec and 6 Jan
Metros: Banco de España and Atocha
http://www.museodelprado.es/en/welcome/

The Prado Museum is arguably the most classic of the big three. The collection ranges from the 12^th to the early 19^th centuries and, being based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, is definitely nationally-focused. In spite of this emphasis on Spanish art, masters from throughout Europe are present: Bosch, Titian, Rubens, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt to name a few. The centerpiece of the collection is, without a doubt, Las Meninas by Velázquez. The building itself dates form the late 18^th century but was expanded in 2007.

Museo Nacional Reina Sofía
Address: Santa Isabel 52
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-21:00, Sun 10-14:30, Tues closed
Metro: Atocha and Lava Piés

For lovers of more contemporary art, there is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Here the focus is 20^th and 21^st century works - again with a Spanish focus. Even visitors who don’t follow art closely will recognize many of the names here: Picasso, Dali, and Juan Gris, for example. Perhaps even those who dislike art will not remain unaffected by the jaw-dropping “Guernica” the enormous masterpiece by Picasso. Other non-Spanish greats include: Man Ray, Braque and Bacon. Curiously, all of this is housed in what functioned as a hospital in the 18^th century. Since then many renovations have been done, most recently the distinctly modern (and very red) wing by French architect, Jean Nouvel, in 2005.

Museo Thyssen Bornemisza
Address:: Paseo del Prado, 8
Hours: Tues-Sun 10-19.00 (including holidays)
Metro: Banco de España

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an anomaly on the Spanish art scene. While both of the other “big three” have Spanish roots, this museum originated from the private collection of the German-Hungarian entrepreneur Heinrich Freiherr Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et Impérfalva. A former Miss Spain, Carmen Cervera, married into this family resulting in the relocation to Spain. The museum opened in 1992 and the Spanish government bought the entire collection in 1993. Due to this history, the works are more wide ranging; the collection spans eight centuries and hosts  important works from throughout Europe.