Art of Madrid, Prado Museum

Madrid is characterized by its rise from a muddy rural village into a striving vibrant capital and one of Europe’s major art cities. So it’s no wonder that you will find one of the world’s most-visited and famous art museums in Madrid; the Prado Art Museum. Also known as Museo Nacional del Prado, it houses some of the leading Spanish masterpieces and art from around the globe.

Originally founded in 1819, the Prado Museum showcases the famous ‘Flemish Art and Italian’ and a number of impressive sculptures within its walls. It holds around 7,600 paintings, 1000 sculptures, and 4,800 prints from famous artists like Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velázquez, amongst others.

The museum has it all and is a must-visit for any avid art lovers while in the area. The best-known display held in the museum is Las Meninas by Velázquez who was mainly responsible for bringing such a fine collection from Italy to Spain.

Aside from the extensive painting collection, the museum displays a vast collection of coins, sculptures, drawings, and prints to admire from throughout Europe. The museum building originally started as an exhibition to only Spanish art and paintings, but over the years this exhibition has been renovated and extended to home more and more fine art from around Europe. Now, it has grown substantially so you can admire the artwork for hours.

Absorb the culture in Madrid and take a walk through art’s grand history at the Museo Nacional del Prado. Perfect for art lovers but also an inspiring day out for those that don’t know art too well. There is lots of helpful staff located around the museum who will gladly offer more information if needed.