Art Museums

The Museo del Prado is the most important museum in Madrid and the most visited in Spain, as it currently houses the largest collection of Spanish paintings in the world. Located on Paseo de Prado, it is one of the best art galleries in the world and accommodates masterpieces of Spanish, Italian, French, Flemish and Dutch painting, among others.

Since it was inaugurated in 1819 and throughout its centuries-old history, it has fulfilled the high mission of preserving, exhibiting and enriching the set of collections and works of art closely linked to the history of Spain. The collection of the Prado Museum, as such, predates the creation of the museum in 1819 (the Prado Museum celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2019) and constitutes the personal art collection of the kings of Spain since the Catholic Monarchs. Works of art were accumulated in the royal palaces in Spain for 300 years and this is how this exquisite and select collection began.

This great museum is one of the most popular and recognized places in the art world, with over 3 million annual visitors and an online presence that exceeds 10 million.

The great names of European painting in general, with the Italian and Flemish schools especially, are represented here by a large number of their masterpieces, which make the Prado Museum one of the essential places in Madrid.

"Las Meninas" by Velázquez, "The Executions of May 2nd" by Goya or "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch are some of the thousands of relevant paintings that you will find in the Prado Museum, in addition to the temporary exhibitions which they always have. You will need several days to see it all and enjoy it properly!

To plan your visit, you will find valuable advice on the museum's website: activities of the day, tours, featured works, download of free apps (Guía del Prado and Second Canvas) and much more at: https://www.museodelprado.es

The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum stands as one of the most important art galleries in the world. Its vast collection, with over 1,200 masterpieces, the result of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family's collecting passion over seven centuries, offers a fascinating journey through the history of Western art, from the Italian primitives to the avant-gardes of the 20th century.

Its existence is due to the lease agreement reached in 1988 and the acquisition by the Spanish government in 1993, collecting the most valuable nucleus of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family's private collection.

The museum was born to reinforce the artistic offer of the area and to fill the gaps (chronological and stylistic) left by the collections of the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum. The collection is one of the richest and most varied of Western painting. Acquired by the Spanish State in 1993 and of private origin, its encyclopedic character makes it a true synthesis of Western painting with the presence of most of the styles of European and American art between the 14th and 20th centuries.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum believes in the power of art to enrich people, enhance their creativity and critical thinking, and improve their quality of life. The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum also proposes to be a benchmark on the international cultural scene and to occupy a place in the collective imagination thanks to the richness of its collection and the quality of the activities organized around it.

You can find works by El Greco, Albrecht Dürer or Duccio di Buoninsegna in one of the best museums in Madrid and located very close to the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum.

With three floors, the museum covers the history of Western painting from the 13th to the 20th centuries. Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Pop Art... are represented in the almost 1,000 works on display.

To see all the information about the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions: Museo Thyssen https://www.museothyssen.org/en

The Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum is an international reference center for modern and contemporary art and forms, together with the Prado Museum and the Thyssen-Bornesmiza Museum, the Art Triangle.

It opened its doors in 1990 with the intention of reflecting Spanish artistic contemporaneity in relation to the international context. Its collections are made up of more than 23,000 works made between the end of the 19th century and the present and house one of the jewels of the art world: Picasso's Guernica. You can also find the best works by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró or Hermen Anglada Camarasa.

The Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum is located in the Old Hospital of San Carlos in the vicinity of the Emperador Carlos V Square. Located in the heart of the capital, it is committed to encouraging collective reflection and dialogue, and serving as a tool to face the complex challenges that affect us. The intention of this space is for us to participate in this exercise of reading the past 20th century with the eyes of the present so that it gives us back the image of a bastard, multiple, complex and heterogeneous modernity.

Its permanent collection was inaugurated in 1992. In chronological terms, this collection is considered an extension of that of the Prado Museum, since it covers the period from the 19th century to the present. Spread over three floors, the permanent collection shows the first contacts of Spanish modernity with Europe, through artists such as Hermenegildo Anglada-Camarasa, Ignacio Zuloaga or Francisco Rubio, to the contribution of the Cubist and Surrealist movements with Picasso, Miró, Dalí , Juan Gris, María Blanchard...or its repercussions on the so-called School of Paris. The reunion in the 1940s with this avant-garde spirit and the prominence that abstract movements assumed in the 1950s and 1960s conclude this historical journey.

The Royal Collections Gallery, located in the Campo del Moro gardens in Madrid, opposite the Royal Palace of Madrid and next to the Almudena Cathedral, is much more than a museum; it is a treasure chest that holds the treasures accumulated by the kings of Spain over the centuries. This building houses a collection that spans from the Visigothic era to the 19th century, offering a journey through history and art through luxury objects, furniture, sculptures, paintings and historical pieces of incalculable value.

Initially conceived to exhibit tapestries and carriages, the museum has evolved to display a wide range of objects that reflect the power, taste and daily life of the Spanish monarchy. Among the most notable pieces are the four enormous Solomonic columns by Churriguera and Herrera el Mozo, which welcome visitors with their opulence.

The collection ranges from religious art pieces, such as the Cross of Lucetius and the polyptych of Isabella the Catholic, to works by great masters such as Velázquez, Caravaggio, Titian and Goya. Visitors can admire the famous "White Horse" by Velázquez, the enigmatic "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist" by Caravaggio, and the impressive portrait of Philip III by Pantoja de la Cruz.

In addition to paintings, the museum displays a rich collection of furniture, such as the sedan chair of Queen Barbara of Braganza, decorated by Corrado Giaquinto, and the black carriage of Queen Mariana of Austria. Sculptures can also be seen such as the "Olympia" by Desiderio da Settignano and the "Fountain of the Eagle" by Philip II.

The textile collection is equally impressive, with tapestries by Raphael Sanzio, Michiel Coxcie and Goya, which decorated the royal palaces and reflected the power and prestige of the monarchy.

The Royal Collections Gallery is not only a place to admire works of art, but also to learn about the history of Spain through objects that have witnessed historical events. The armour of Charles V, used in the battle of Mühlberg, or the clock "El Candil" by Hans de Evalo, are just some examples of the historical importance of the pieces on display.

The collection is dynamic and constantly evolving, with temporary exhibitions that allow visitors to discover new facets of the royal heritage. In addition, the museum has an educational programme and cultural activities that make it a living space in constant transformation.

The Dos de Mayo Art Center (CA2M) is a beacon of contemporary creation in the Community of Madrid. Located in the heart of Móstoles, this cultural space has become a reference for artists, researchers and the general public interested in the latest trends in art.

The CA2M houses one of the most important collections of contemporary art in Spain, made up of more than 1,500 works from the Contemporary Art Collection of the Community of Madrid and some 300 from the ARCO Collection. This rich collection allows us to take a tour through the history of art in the 20th and 21st centuries, from the historical avant-gardes to the most innovative artistic expressions of our time.

The CA2M is not just a museum, but a living and dynamic space where art meets society. Through a wide programme of exhibitions, workshops, conferences and educational activities, the centre seeks to bring contemporary art closer to all audiences, especially young people.

The CA2M is an international reference in the field of contemporary art. Its programming, the quality of its exhibitions and its commitment to innovation have made it a meeting point for artists, curators and researchers from around the world.

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

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 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.

El Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, joya del Triángulo del Arte de Madrid, nos invita a un fascinante recorrido por la historia del diseño y la artesanía. Ubicado en un elegante palacio del siglo XIX, este museo alberga una vasta colección de objetos que reflejan la evolución del gusto y las técnicas decorativas desde la Edad Media hasta el siglo XX.

Desde su fundación en 1912, el museo ha sido un referente en el estudio y la conservación de las artes decorativas. Sus salas, repartidas en cinco plantas, recrean ambientes de diferentes épocas, permitiéndonos sumergirnos en la vida cotidiana de nuestros antepasados. Una de las joyas del museo es la reconstrucción de una cocina valenciana del siglo XVIII, con sus azulejos originales y sus utensilios de cocina.

La colección del museo es excepcionalmente rica y variada. Desde exquisitas porcelanas chinas y europeas hasta alfombras orientales, pasando por muebles, textiles, vidrio y objetos de metal, cada pieza cuenta una historia y refleja la habilidad de los artesanos que las crearon.

• Cerámica: Destaca la colección de loza italiana, con piezas de gran belleza y valor histórico. También cuenta con una amplia representación de la cerámica española, con ejemplos de los principales centros productores como Manises, Talavera de la Reina y El Puente del Arzobispo.
• Textiles: La colección textil abarca desde paños coptos del siglo II hasta piezas de alta costura del siglo XX. Destaca el Tapiz de las Bodas, una obra maestra del siglo XV.
• Mobiliario: El museo alberga una amplia variedad de muebles, desde góticos hasta modernistas, que reflejan la evolución del diseño y la función de los objetos en el hogar.
• Metalistería: La colección de platería es especialmente destacada, con piezas que van desde el siglo XIV hasta el siglo XX.
• Vidrio: Desde el vidrio romano hasta las creaciones de Émile Gallé y René Lalique, la colección de vidrio del museo es una verdadera joya.

El Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas es un referente internacional en el estudio de las artes decorativas. Su colección, continuamente enriquecida gracias a donaciones y adquisiciones, es una fuente inagotable de inspiración para diseñadores, historiadores del arte y amantes de la belleza.

El museo organiza exposiciones temporales, talleres, conferencias y otras actividades que permiten acercar el arte y el diseño a un público cada vez más amplio. Además, cuenta con una biblioteca especializada y un archivo documental que son una valiosa herramienta para investigadores y estudiantes.

La Real Fábrica de Tapices de Santa Bárbara es mucho más que un taller artesanal; es un tesoro histórico y artístico que ha tejido la historia de España durante más de tres siglos. Fundada en 1720 por Felipe V, esta manufactura real fue concebida para crear piezas de lujo que adornaran los palacios y residencias de la monarquía española.

Desde sus inicios, la fábrica ha sido un referente en la producción de tapices de alta calidad. Los maestros tejedores, siguiendo los diseños de reconocidos artistas, creaban obras de arte que combinaban la técnica artesanal con la más alta expresión artística. Los primeros años estuvieron marcados por la influencia flamenca, pero pronto la fábrica se adaptó a los gustos de la corte, incorporando nuevos estilos y temas.

El reinado de Carlos III marcó una época dorada para la Real Fábrica. Bajo la dirección de Antonio Rafael Mengs, primer pintor de cámara del rey, la fábrica experimentó un renacimiento artístico. Mengs introdujo un estilo neoclásico que se combinaba con el pintoresquismo de la época, dando lugar a obras de gran belleza y originalidad. Artistas como Francisco de Goya, José del Castillo y Mariano Salvador Maella dejaron su huella en la fábrica, creando diseños que se convirtieron en iconos de la producción española.

Hoy en día, la Real Fábrica de Tapices continúa siendo un lugar donde se entrelazan tradición y modernidad. Sus talleres, equipados con telares antiguos y modernos, son un testimonio vivo de una artesanía que se transmite de generación en generación. Los visitantes pueden observar a los tejedores en acción y conocer los secretos de este antiguo oficio.

La fábrica cuenta con una amplia colección de tapices que abarca desde el siglo XVIII hasta la actualidad. Entre ellos destacan las series históricas, los retratos de la realeza y las escenas de la vida cotidiana. También se pueden admirar obras de arte contemporáneo, como los tapices diseñados por Picasso y Dalí.

A pesar de los desafíos que ha enfrentado a lo largo de su historia, la Real Fábrica de Tapices sigue siendo una institución viva y vibrante. Su compromiso con la preservación del patrimonio cultural y la promoción de las artes decorativas la convierte en un referente a nivel mundial.

Visitar la Real Fábrica de Tapices es una experiencia única que nos transporta a un mundo de belleza y artesanía. Es un lugar donde podemos apreciar la maestría de los tejedores, la creatividad de los artistas y la riqueza de la historia española.

El Museo ABC, ubicado en el corazón de Madrid, es un tesoro oculto para los amantes del dibujo y la ilustración. Este espacio, que alberga una de las colecciones privadas de dibujos más importantes del mundo, nos invita a realizar un fascinante viaje por la historia del arte gráfico español. 

La Colección ABC, iniciada en 1891, es un compendio de más de 150.000 obras que abarcan un siglo de creación artística. Desde sus inicios, la revista Blanco y Negro y posteriormente el diario ABC fueron el vehículo para dar a conocer el trabajo de numerosos artistas, quienes plasmaron en sus dibujos la realidad social, política y cultural de su tiempo.

El edificio que alberga el museo, una antigua fábrica de cerveza Mahou, ha sido cuidadosamente restaurado para convertirse en un espacio moderno y acogedor. Las salas de exposiciones, diseñadas por el estudio de arquitectura Aranguren & Gallegos, ofrecen un ambiente ideal para disfrutar de las obras expuestas.

La colección del Museo ABC es un reflejo de la evolución del dibujo español a lo largo del siglo XX. Desde los grandes maestros del siglo XIX, como Mariano Pedrero y Cecilio Plá, hasta los artistas contemporáneos, como Antonio Mingote y Maruja Mallo, pasando por figuras clave como Narciso Méndez Bringa y Ángel Díaz Huertas, la muestra ofrece un panorama completo de las diferentes tendencias y estilos que han marcado la historia del dibujo en España.

El Museo ABC no es solo un lugar para contemplar obras de arte, sino también un espacio vivo y dinámico donde se organizan exposiciones temporales, talleres, conferencias y otras actividades culturales. Además, el museo cuenta con una biblioteca especializada y un archivo documental que son una valiosa herramienta para investigadores y estudiantes.

A través de sus exposiciones, el Museo ABC rinde homenaje a los grandes maestros del dibujo español y a aquellos artistas que, a pesar de ser menos conocidos, han dejado una huella importante en la historia del arte. La colección del museo es un tesoro que nos permite apreciar la belleza y la diversidad del dibujo como forma de expresión artística.

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 Ulpiano Checa Museum is located in Colmenar de Oreja, the birthplace of Ulpiano Checa, an artist specialising in historical and orientalist painting. The monographic museum, which opened in 1960, is located in his birthplace (the house of the "seven patios") and is divided into areas where you can discover this unknown painter and his relationship with Colmenar.

It is the best collection dedicated to a single artist and a reference in the exhibition spaces of the region. The museum houses a large number of oil paintings, watercolours, engravings and illustrated books, as well as some reference works and a lot of varied documentation on the figure of the painter, one of the most sought-after of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The building, restored and extended, has its access through well-kept gardens, where in addition to the bust of the painter, there is a monument to the characteristic elements of the city: the stone and the jar.

Inside, the 20-square-metre work "Last Days of Pompeii" stands out, and the collection has been expanded with acquisitions of works in London, New York, Paris, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Oslo and Madrid. These new donations and deposits have made the museum the most important repository of his work and one of the most important municipal museums in Spain.

El Museo de Arte Iberoamericano de la Universidad de Alcalá es una joya cultural que nos transporta a través de siglos de creación artística en el continente americano. Ubicado en un espacio moderno y acogedor, este museo alberga dos colecciones de excepcional valor, las cuales, en conjunto, ofrecen un panorama completo del arte iberoamericano desde sus orígenes hasta la actualidad.

La primera de estas colecciones pertenece a Luis González Robles, un mecenas que dedicó su vida a reunir obras de los artistas más destacados de la vanguardia española e hispanoamericana. Su legado, donado a la Universidad de Alcalá, incluye obras de movimientos artísticos tan importantes como Dau al Set y El Paso, así como de artistas de la talla de Tàpies, Guinovart y Canogar. Esta colección nos muestra la vitalidad y la diversidad de la creación artística en Iberoamérica durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX.

La segunda colección, proveniente de la Fundación José Félix Llopis, nos lleva a un viaje en el tiempo hasta las raíces de la cultura americana. Esta colección, centrada en el arte precolombino y colonial, nos permite admirar la riqueza y la complejidad de las expresiones artísticas de los pueblos indígenas y mestizos de América. Destaca la pintura colonial cuzqueña, con sus representaciones ingenuas y coloridas de escenas religiosas y de la vida cotidiana.

La yuxtaposición de estas dos colecciones crea un diálogo fascinante entre el pasado y el presente.

La creación de este museo ha enriquecido significativamente la oferta cultural de Alcalá de Henares, convirtiéndola en un destino atractivo para los amantes del arte.

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.

La Neomudéjar es mucho más que un museo; es un auténtico laboratorio de ideas y un espacio de experimentación artística en constante evolución. Ubicado en los antiguos talleres ferroviarios de Atocha, este centro de arte contemporáneo se ha convertido en un referente imprescindible para entender las tendencias más innovadoras del arte contemporáneo.

Desde su inauguración en 2013, La Neomudéjar ha sido un espacio de encuentro para artistas, creadores y público en general interesado en las últimas tendencias del arte. Aquí se dan cita disciplinas como el arte urbano, el videoarte, la performance, el arte sonoro y las nuevas tecnologías, creando un ambiente vibrante y estimulante.

La Neomudéjar cuenta con un archivo de videoarte que es una referencia a nivel nacional e internacional. Este archivo permite a investigadores, artistas y público en general acceder a una amplia colección de obras audiovisuales, documentando así la evolución del videoarte en España.

La programación de La Neomudéjar es extensa y variada, y abarca exposiciones, festivales, talleres, conferencias y residencias artísticas. El centro colabora con artistas nacionales e internacionales, promoviendo el intercambio cultural y la creación de redes artísticas.