Location: Madrid
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Things to do in Madrid, Community of Madrid: The Best Art Museums
So many of Madrid’s buildings look like castles, you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a fairytale. Even City Hall is astounding, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features. A self-guided architecture tour can begin by the great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol. Wander by the fanciful Royal Palace before absorbing the natural beauty of Retiro Park, then visit one of the city’s many museums. You could happily cap off each day by nibbling on forkfuls of paella while sipping Spanish rioja.
Restaurants in Madrid
1. Fundacion Maria Cristina Masaveu Peterson
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By amrptravel
Interesting private collection, specially how the family today continues the legacy of (a) the art culture and preservation of it, and (b) inspiring others to do art and become artists.
2. Prado National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56,733 reviews
The Prado has one of the largest art collections in the world, and is best known for its diverse assortment of works by Velasquez, Goya and El Greco.
Reviewed By EricM59cc - Miami Beach, United States
Must see attraction in Madrid, beautifully organized and great collection from Spanish masters and some extra bonus with masterpieces by Bosh, Rubens,... Highly recommended.
3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,159 reviews
World famous modern art museum featuring a diverse collection of 20th century Spanish art, from Picasso to Solana.
Reviewed By psdunner - Bethesda, United States
Wonderful collection of modern art the video, long, of the history from the Civil War on is fascinating and a unique way of learning history. The works of modern Spanish artists is incomparable.
4. Museo Sorolla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,378 reviews
The Sorolla Museum preserves the original atmosphere of both home and study of the painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Valencia, 1863 - Cercedilla, 1923). It houses the richest collection of his works, colourful paintings irradiating light and vitality. It is one of the more complete and best preserved artist homes remaining in Europe. The garden, also designed by himself, is a beautiful oasis in the city.
Reviewed By PatAustralia
This small museum in a smart part of Madrid is a gem. Not crowded, cheap entry fee, excellent English signage and audio and peaceful. It is worlds away from the bedlam of the Prado and Thyssen. It is Sorolla’s house and garden and we spent a leisurely hour or so taking in the beauty and cleverness of this wonderful Spanish artist who specialised in ‘light’. Plenty of really good cafes close by for a coffee afterwards. Highly recommended.
5. Museo Arqueologico Nacional
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,099 reviews
Works dating mostly from Hispanic prehistory to the Modern Age, but it also includes some other cultural remains: Greek, Etruscan, Roman and various South American cultures.
Reviewed By 485carmencitad - Madrid, Spain
NATIVE POPULATION, as Tartessos, Turdetani, Iberian, Celts, Ligurians Galaicos, Astures, Cantabrians, Várdulos, Basques, MEDITERRANEAN Phoenicians Carthaginians, Greek, CONQUERORS Roman ,Vandalos, Suevos, Alanos, Goths Byzantine, Visigoths Arab... All these peoples constructed or left his fingerprint in Spain and you can find his track and his memory in the objects that are exposed in this eclectic Archaeological National Museum Dating from 1867, after a Conscientious renovation project is maybe the best archaeological museum in Europe and, therefore, in the world'. It traces the evolution of human cultures, from prehistoric times up to the 15th century.Remarkably, the great majority of pieces came from excavations carried out within Spain, illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula. illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula.
6. Museo Lazaro Galdiano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,124 reviews
Reviewed By FactotumDellaCitta - London, United Kingdom
Lázaro Galdiano was a publisher who was active during the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was an avid collector of, well, everything - paintings, coins, textiles, jewelry, arms, and furniture, to name some of his interests. Highlights of his collection are housed in this museum, which is his former mansion.
7. Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 457 reviews
8. Fundacion Juan March
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
The Fundación Juan March organizes, each year, at least two art exhibitions, around 150 concerts and more than a hundred conferences. Access is free of charge. The Fundación's research library is open to researchers on these areas:contemporary Spanish theatre and music, illusionism and curatorial studies. There is also a restaurant-cafeteria, and a sculpture garden with a public library with free access to around 1,000 books.
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
William Morris was one of the prime leaders of the Arts and Crafts Movement in England and the Juan March Museum had many of his designs in fabrics, wallpapers, and furniture. This is one of the best exhibitions that I have seen in this museum.
9. Museo Cerralbo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,113 reviews
Reviewed By hilarionmartinez
Just got back from Madrid and have to share the pics I took at what I believe is Madrid’s BEST House Museum. The Museum Cerralbo houses the art and historical object collections of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, 17th Marquis of Cerralbo, who died in 1922. The mansion was built in the 19th century, according to Italian taste, and is luxuriously decorated with baroque furniture, wall paintings and in my opinion the best chandeliers I’ve seen anywhere. If you like beautiful chandeliers do not miss it. It is near the Plaza de España Metro. The home retains its original aesthetics; the grand staircase will leave you breathless. It features an interesting collection of paintings, archaeology and furniture, including works by Jacopo Tintoretto, Jacopo Palma the Younger, El Greco, Ludovico Carracci, Alonso Cano, Zurbarán, Luis Paret and many more. This palace is my favorite home to visit in Madrid in that you see a great collection of paintings, furniture and decorative arts and experience what life was like for one of Madrid’s aristocratic families. It is SPECTACULAR!
10. Palacio de Gaviria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By amrptravel
The Temporary Exhibition of Brueghel and the art-work of the some members of the same family, AMAZING!
