How to Visit Art Museums in Madrid
Madrid, the capital city of Spain, has more than 40 museums and offers a wealth of treasures to the art lover. While nearly every visitor knows about the Museo del Prado, there are many other smaller art museums that will intrigue those who appreciate fine art.
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Instructions
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1
Visit the crown jewel in Madrid's museum collection, the Museo del Prado. It can get extremely busy during high season so it's best to go very early to avoid the long lines. The museum's Velazquez collection is its most famous asset (especially "Venus at her toilet"), but there are a number of less-known treasures. Ribera's "The Martyrdom of St. Philip" is an especially striking example of early 17th century Spanish art.
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2
Study the modern art at the Centro de Arte Sofia. Spain produced some of the twentieth century's premier modern artists, most notably Picasso and Dali, and here you will find some of the finest examples of their work.
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Stroll the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, the third museum on Madrid's Paseo del Arte. This museum originated as a private collection of the Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon, which makes it somewhat more eclectic than the first two museums mentioned in Steps 1 and 2. This museum also frequently puts on temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists, including photographers, so check their scheduled listings for future exhibits.
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Take in Madrid's history via the Museo Municipal. This museum, formerly a hospice built in the seventeenth century, holds a collection of paintings, drawings, ceramics and furniture relevant to the history of Madrid. There's a beautiful scale model of Madrid in 1830 that shouldn't be missed.
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Inspire yourself at the Museo Panteon de Goya. This small, domed hermitage houses the tomb of Goya, Spain's great humanist painter and etcher, as well as an incredible fresco by Goya depicting the miracles of Saint Anthony.
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Put yourself in classical art student's shoes in the Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. This fine arts academy was founded by the Bourbon dynasty and has seen the likes of Goya, Picasso and Dali. It's a little-known museum where you can escape from the tourist crush and view a collection of art covering most of Spanish history.
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Imagine life in the middle class at the Museo Romántico. This classic 18th century palace has been converted into an exhibit on middle-class life in the 19th century, and, though it will be of particular interest to history buffs, it does contain several fine examples of more quotidian Spanish art.
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Tips & Warnings
Centro de Arte Sofia is a museum for those interested in modern art, and those looking for more classical pieces should go elsewhere.
A word to the wise: The café at Centro de Arte Sofia should be avoided.
Consider a museum pass. An Abono Paseo del Arte is good for a visit to each of the three main museums: the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen. The Madrid Card, while expensive, gives you free entry to more than 40 museums, as well as the Fun Fair, zoo and aquarium. It also gives you unlimited travel on the Madrid Vision tour bus, a double-decker tour bus that offers tours of the city. The Madrid Card is available in 24, 48 and 72 hour versions. You should also consider getting a Tourist Travel Pass, as this will give you unlimited travel on public transport in the Madrid region.
