Art Museums in Madrid

An authentic palace-house that still preserves the same decoration of the residence of the Marquis of Cerralbo from the 17th century. The furniture typical of an aristocratic family predominates, distributed in living rooms and bedrooms.

The Cerralbo Museum is one of those museums that are on the list of becoming your favorites, but that few people know about. Located in a central and beautiful 17th century palace, the Cerralbo Museum houses a unique and complete collection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, tapestries, furniture, coins, medals, drawings, prints, clocks, weapons, archaeological pieces and much more of objects that the Marquis of Cerralbo and his family collected throughout their lives.

Thus, this center shows in its rooms the original decorative setting typical of an aristocratic residence from the late 19th century, thoroughly recovered in the first decade of the 21st century. The Museum also offers an extensive program of cultural activities.

Your visit will invite you to discover what life in the city was like at that time, with literary gatherings, dances, salon confidences, etc. One of the most important museums in the city, which despite not being as well known as the Prado Museum or the Thyssen Museum, you will like as much as these.

To make the most of your visit, you have the official website.

Located in the Salamanca neighborhood, the Museum houses a large collection of works assembled by the editor José Lázaro Galdiano. It exhibits authors such as Goya, Hieronymus Bosch and Zurbarán, as well as weapons, medals and ceramics of great value.

The Lázaro Galdiano Museum opened its doors to the public on January 27, 1951 and its inauguration was a pleasant surprise for the public and professionals related to culture, both due to the richness and variety of the collections, as well as the innovative museography used for its exposure.

Inside you will find works by Hieronymus Bosch, Velázquez and Goya, among other great artists, as well as an interesting collection of miniatures, armor, jewelry, sculptures, drawings, etc. A very complete option in the center of Madrid.

The museum also has a cell phone application to access multimedia guides, with free and paid options. You will find more information about the visit at: www.flg.es/your-visit-to-the-museo-lazaro-galdiano

Located in the Chamberí district, in what was the residence and studio of the painter, it was created at the request of Joaquín Sorolla's widow, who bequeathed her assets to the state for the foundation of a museum in memory of her husband. The museum houses the majority of the objects that Joaquín Sorolla gathered during his lifetime. The artist's work predominates, both in painting and drawing, making it the most extensive and representative collection preserved.

It is the house-studio where Joaquín Sorolla lived until the end of his days, donated to the state by his widow, Clotilde García, and inaugurated as a museum in 1932. This Sorolla house-museum was built between 1910 and 1911 and was occupied by the artist and his family at the end of the year.

In the museum, you will find most of the objects Sorolla collected in his lifetime, as well as the majority of his outstanding paintings: "Swimmers," "Stroll by the Sea," "The Siesta," "The Child with the Boat"... You will also find a variety of works acquired by the Spanish State.

The museum's mission is the conservation and public exhibition of authentic works executed by Sorolla, as well as any paintings, art objects, furniture, etc., existing in house 37 on Paseo del General Martínez Campos, and those acquired in the future for said museum. The works collected here come from donations made by his wife and children to the Spanish State to create the museum, and were further augmented in 1951 with the donation of all his assets by Sorolla's son, Joaquín Sorolla García.

In the house-museum, you can see the three gardens, Sorolla's workspace, and the family's living area.

The Museum of Romanticism, housed in a 19th-century building in the heart of Madrid, offers a fascinating window into the life and culture of the Romantic period in Spain (1833-1868). Through its rich collection of works of art, historical objects and period furniture, the museum transports you to an era of contrasts, where passion, imagination and individualism flourished alongside the turbulent social and political realities of the time.

The museum houses a notable collection of Spanish romantic painting, with works by artists such as Antonio Gisbert, José de Madrazo, Francisco Pradilla Ortiz and Federico de Madrazo. These works capture the essence of Romanticism, with their dramatic themes, evocative landscapes, and emotionally charged portraits.

The sculpture collection includes pieces by prominent artists such as Piquer y Pellicer, Gutiérrez de la Vega and José Álvarez Cubero. These sculptures represent heroic figures, mythological scenes and allegories, reflecting the ideals and values of Romanticism.

The museum has a wide collection of decorative arts, such as porcelain, tapestries, fans and furniture. These pieces offer a valuable perspective on the daily life and aesthetic taste of the Romantic era. In addition, it preserves an important collection of historical documents, such as letters, diaries and manuscripts. These documents provide first-hand information about the political, social and cultural events of romantic Spain.

Located in Buitrago de Lozoya, the Picasso Museum houses a unique collection based on the friendship between two Spanish exiles: the artist Pablo Ruiz Picasso and his hairdresser Eugenio Arias. The collection was donated by Eugenio Arias to the Provincial Council of Madrid in 1982.

This peculiar collection, made up of 75 pieces, comes from the works that Picasso gave to his friend and confidant as a token of his affection. Picasso's barber wanted the collection to remain in his homeland, Buitrago del Lozoya, giving up his collection to create a space dedicated to Picasso. This collection, of a very varied nature, brings together drawings, graphic works, ceramics, posters, dedicated books and other unique items such as a pyrographed box of hairdressing tools. A perfect plan if you decide to visit one of the most beautiful towns in the Community of Madrid and visit the only museum dedicated to art and friendship.

The Alcorcón Glass Art Museum (MAVA) is a hidden gem for contemporary art lovers. Located in the Castillo Grande de Valderas, this museum immerses us in a universe of color and light, where glass is transformed into a creative tool without limits.

The MAVA was born in 1997 thanks to the initiative of the sculptor Javier Gómez, who dreamed of creating a space dedicated to showcasing the infinite possibilities of glass in contemporary art. His vision became a reality thanks to the generosity of collectors such as Takako Sano and Aldo Bellini, who donated part of their collections to the museum.

The MAVA's permanent collection is made up of more than 200 works by artists from around the world. Sculptures, installations and artistic objects created with glass in all its forms: blown, cast, flat... Each piece is a masterpiece that invites us to reflect on light, transparency and fragility.

The MAVA is not only a museum, but also a center for experimentation and creation. Through workshops, conferences and temporary exhibitions, the museum encourages research and innovation in the field of glass. In addition, the educational workshop equipped with melting furnaces allows visitors to discover the secrets of this fascinating material.

Located in Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, the National Museum of Decorative Arts (MNAD) is one of the city's oldest and richest museums. Housed in a palace at 12 Montalbán Street—near Retiro Park and the Prado Museum—it offers a journey through the evolution of decorative arts, including furniture, ceramics, glass, and textiles, from the 15th to the 20th centuries.

This state-owned institution was established in 1912 as the National Museum of Industrial Arts and adopted its current name in 1927. Originally designed with an educational focus inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, it moved in 1932 to the former summer palace of the Duchess of Santoña (built in 1878). The building was later expanded and declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1962.

The museum features 60 exhibition rooms spread across five floors. Some rooms include recreations of historical settings, such as an 18th-century Valencian kitchen decorated with 1,536 tiles. While it houses nearly 70,000 objects, approximately 1,600 are currently on display. It is renowned for its collections of Spanish decorative arts and an extensive international inventory, particularly Oriental art from China (Ming and Qing dynasties), the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, and Thailand.

The collection spans from an 11th-century storage jar to European porcelain from Meissen, Delft, Limoges, Capodimonte, and Sèvres. A major highlight is the Italian tin-glazed pottery, bolstered in 2004 by the Enrique Scharlau Bellsch collection. Other notable pieces include 15th- to 17th-century carpets from Cuenca and Alcaraz, Spanish furniture dating back to the 14th century, works from the Buen Retiro Royal Hardstone Workshop, over 550 pieces of silverware, and historic clocks. It also preserves tapestries like The Vision of Ezekiel, textiles dating back to the 2nd century, and a vast glass collection featuring works by Émile Gallé and René Lalique.

Given the breadth and richness of its collections, the National Museum of Decorative Arts is one of Madrid’s most comprehensive cultural spaces. A visit allows you to discover vanished artisanal and industrial techniques while understanding the evolution of taste, design, and daily life over the centuries. It is an essential stop for anyone wishing to explore art and history from a unique perspective in the Spanish capital.