MUSEUMS

17 hot spots recommended for you

Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, All Areas The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando), located on the Calle de Alcalá in the heart of Madrid, currently functions as a museum and gallery. The academy was established by royal decree in 1744. About twenty years later, the enlightened monarch, Charles III purchased a former Baroque palace and commissioned architect Diego de Villanueva to convert it for academic use. Doubling as a museum and gallery, today it houses a fine art collection of paintings from the 15th to 20th century: Giovanni Bellini, Correggio, Rubens, Zurbarán, Murillo, Goya, Juan Gris, Pablo Serrano... The academy is also the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando), located on the Calle de Alcalá in the ... [ + more ]

Casa de Lope de Vega, All Areas for free In this house lived the brilliant playwright Lope de Vega for 25 years until his death. Dating back to the seventeenth century this typical house, with some divisions vegetable garden and rebuilt several times mentioned in his works In this house lived the brilliant playwright Lope de Vega for 25 years until his death. Dating back to the seventeenth century this ... [ + more ]

Fundacion Juan March, All Areas for free This cultural foundation, set up by the wealthy financier Juan March in 1955, is one of the most important in Europe. Each year, a couple of major exhibitions are held here, and a decent selection of the foundation's 1,300 works of contemporary Spanish art is also on permanent display. Free concerts, held at noon, are also worth checking out. This cultural foundation, set up by the wealthy financier Juan March in 1955, is one of the most important in Europe. Each ... [ + more ]

Galeria Moriarty, All Areas for free Often offers exhibits less conventional than the renowned galleries. Opened in the 80s, continues to be a popular spot for contemporary artists. Often offers exhibits less conventional than the renowned galleries. Opened in the 80s, continues to be a popular spot for contemporary artists. [ + more ]

La Casa Encendida, All Areas for free La Casa Encendida ("The Enlighted House") is much more than a gallery, is a cultural and educational center with anything from art in early childhood, language courses for both non-English and non-Spanish speakers, and technology courses for the mentally disabled. Another great feature is their promotion of "green" issues, for which they also offer a whole gamut of lectures and conferences. La Casa Encendida ("The Enlighted House") is much more than a gallery, is a cultural and educational center with anything from art in early childhood, ... [ + more ]

Museo Arqueológico Nacional, All Areas Located in Palza de Cólon, the Museo Arqueológico Nacionalwas founded in 1867. This museum has the reponsability for beeing a depository for numismatic, archaeological, ethnographical and decorative art collections compiled by the Spanish monarchs. The current collection includes, among others, Pre-historic, Egyptian, Celtic, Iberian, Greek and Roman antiquities and medieval (Visigothic, Muslim and Christian) objects. The large collection includes stunning mosaics taken from Roman villas across Spain, intricate Muslim-era and Mudéjar handiwork, sculpted figures such as the Dama de Ibiza and Dama de Elche, examples of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles and a partial copy of the prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira (Cantabria). Located in Palza de Cólon, the Museo Arqueológico Nacionalwas founded in 1867. This museum has the reponsability for beeing a depository for numismatic, archaeological, ... [ + more ]

Museo de America, All Areas The Museo de América holds artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections from the whole American continent, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. Founded in 1941, the permanent exhibit is divided into five major thematical areas: El Conocimiento de América (which traces the discovery and exploration of the Americas), La Realidad de América (a big-screen summary of how South America wound up as it has today), and others on society, religion and language, which each explore tribal issues, the clash with the Spanish newcomers and its results. The Colombian gold collection, dating as far back as the 2nd century AD, is particularly eye-catching. The two levels of the museum show off a representative display of ceramics, statuary, jewellery and instruments of hunting, fishing and war, along with some of the paraphernalia of the colonisers. The Museo de América holds artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections from the whole American continent, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. [ + more ]

Museo de Cerralbo, All Areas The Museo Cerralbo shows the collection of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Cerralbo, a great collector who donated this palace to the state. At the mansion are exposed parts of his eclectic collection: from Eastern art to the religious painting, aramduras and wall clocks. The Museo Cerralbo shows the collection of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Cerralbo, a great collector who donated this palace to the ... [ + more ]

Museo de San isidro, All Areas for free On the site where Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador (St Isidro, the farm labourer) ended his days around 1172, this small museum is dedicated to the saint’s life. The permanent exhibition, which presents a selection in the sample Origins of Madrid, the Madrid dedicated to the archeology and history of the city from prehistoric times to the transfer of the Court in 1561, by order of Philip II. Outstanding in the valuable collections all disappeared from the Archaeological Institute and the Municipal Museum, which summarizes more than one hundred years of archeology Madrid. Also in the store visited, shows a wider selection of parts, and the archaeobotanical garden, located next to the apse of the chapel of the bishop, collected l On the site where Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador (St Isidro, the farm labourer) ended his days around 1172, this small museum is dedicated ... [ + more ]

Museo del Ferrocarril, All Areas Housed in the elegant but disused Delicias station, with ironwork by Gustave Eiffel, Madrid's railway museum has an evocative collection of models, old locomotives, railway equipment and memorabilia. There is also a room dedicated to clocks, including the one that marked time when Spain's first ever train chugged from Barcelona to Mataró. You can climb on the trains, have a drink in an old restaurant car or watch film footage of Spanish railways. This great museum for kids offers occasional theatre performances, a bring-and-buy market for model train enthusiasts, and more. It is located about 100 yards off the main road, behind the national railway offices. Housed in the elegant but disused Delicias station, with ironwork by Gustave Eiffel, Madrid's railway museum has an evocative collection of models, old locomotives, railway ... [ + more ]

Museo del Prado, All Areas The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery located in Madrid. Originally conceived as a Natural History Musem and built on the orders of Charles III, the building which now houses the Museo Nacional del Prado was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva en 1785. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. The Royal Collections, the origins of the Prado’s present collection, originated in the sixteenth century under the Emperor Charles V were enriched over the years by all the succeeding Spanish monarchs, both Habsburgs and Bourbons. El Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world, and it is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery located in Madrid. Originally conceived as a Natural History Musem and built on the orders ... [ + more ]

Museo Lazaro Galdiano, All Areas t houses the art collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. The building was constructed in 1903 as the residence of Lázaro Galdiano and his wife. The conversion to a museum has respected the original interiors and the building was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1962. The ground floor is largely given over to a display setting the social context in which Galdiano lived, with hundreds of curios from all around the world on show. This remarkable collection ranges beyond paintings to sculptures, bronzes, miniature figures, jewellery, ceramics, furniture, weapons…clearly he was a man of wide interests. The lovely 1st floor is dominated by Spanish artworks arrayed around the centrepiece of the former ballroom and beneath lavishly frescoed ceilings. The 2nd floor contains numerous minor masterpieces from Italian, Flemish, English and French painters, while the top floor is jammed with all sorts of ephemera, including some exquisite textiles in room 24. t houses the art collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. The building was constructed in 1903 as the residence of Lázaro Galdiano and his wife. [ + more ]

Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, All Areas The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo known as Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo,is a rich collection of modern Spanish art, mostly paintings and graphic art with a smattering of photography, sculpture and drawings. Running throughout much of the gallery are works showcasing creative interpretations of Madrid’s cityscape – avant-garde splodges and almost old-fashioned visions of modern Madrid side by side – and, for many lay visitors, therein lies the museum’s greatest appeal. Some examples include Juan Moreno Aquado’s Chamartí­n (2000), Luis Mayo’s Cibeles (1997) and a typically fantastical representation of the Cibeles fountain by one-time icon of la movida madrileña, Ouka Lele. The many talented artists represented here include Eduardo Arroyo and Basque sculptor Jorde Oteiza. The museum was closed for major renovations at the time of writing with no scheduled date for reopening. The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo known as Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo,is a rich collection of modern Spanish art, mostly paintings and graphic art with ... [ + more ]

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, All Areas an interesting itinerary of exhibits. The museum’s collection is focused on abstract art, contains a number of artists relatively unknown outside of Spain, but is worthy of your attention. The Reina Sofia Art Museum has many treasures but Picasso’s Guernica is the most popular work of art in the collection. an interesting itinerary of exhibits. The museum’s collection is focused on abstract art, contains a number of artists relatively unknown outside of Spain, but is ... [ + more ]

Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, All Areas The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas is located close to the Puerta de Alcalá. It has up to 15,000 objects displayed throughout 60 rooms, and contains recreations of decorative settings from the 15th-19th centuries. The majority of items on display are Spanish, although there is an outstanding collection of Oriental art, with objects from the last two Imperial Chinese dynasties, Ming and Qing, along with others from the Edo and Meiji periods in Japan. Highlights of Spain's own decorative art include: magnificent ceramics from Talavera, Toledo and Alcora dating from the 15th-18th centuries; the glassware collection; the textiles collection; Spanish carpets, with pieces from the 15th-17th centuries; and furniture, jewels and precious metalwork. The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas is located close to the Puerta de Alcalá. It has up to 15,000 objects displayed throughout 60 rooms, ... [ + more ]

Museo Sorolla, All Areas The house of artist Joaquí­n Sorolla is a quiet mansion surrounded by gardens that he designed himself. It contains the most complete collection of the artist’s works. The collection is divided in 2: Joaquin Sorolla Bastida Artwork -paintings and Other Collections - Sculpture and Ceramic. The house of artist Joaquí­n Sorolla is a quiet mansion surrounded by gardens that he designed himself. It contains the most complete collection ... [ + more ]

Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, All Areas The Thyssen-Bornemisza family collected what became one of the world's finest private art collections over a number of generations. Located in the Palacio de Villahermosa (S.XIX), it was remodeled by the architect Rafael Moneo to house an impressive painting collection assembled by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family, spanning more than two generations. You will see masterpieces by Van Dyck, Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Kandinsky among others. The collection follows a chronological order running from the 13th to the 20th Century. The Thyssen-Bornemisza family collected what became one of the world's finest private art collections over a number of generations. Located in the Palacio de ... [ + more ]