Madrid, Spain3 hoursWeekdays
Prado Museum
Madrid's master collection of Velázquez, Goya, and Spanish art.
Ideal: Ideal for art, museums, history, and Madrid culture routes.
Opened in 1819; of more than 8,000 paintings in the collection only about 1,300 can be displayed at once. Velázquez's Las Meninas from 1656 is one of the most debated works in painting history for placing the viewer inside the picture. Goya's Black Paintings were not originally canvases: painted directly on the walls of the house where he lived deaf and alone, later transferred to canvas. During the Civil War the collection was moved first to Valencia, then Geneva, to protect it from bombing.
Why go?
- To see one of the most important collections of Spanish and European art
- To examine works by masters such as Goya and Velázquez up close
- To add a strong classic museum experience to Madrid's culture route
Travel tip
The museum is large — choose works you want to see in advance or you'll tire easily inside.
