The Heart of Spanish Painting in Madrid

At a Glance

The Museo Nacional del Prado in central Madrid is the great public museum of the Spanish royal collection. Since its 1819 opening it has anchored the world's most concentrated view of Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco, joined by Titian, Rubens, and Hieronymus Bosch to stretch beyond Iberia.

From Royal Collection to Public Museum

The neoclassical main building was designed by Juan de Villanueva in 1785 for Carlos III, originally as a natural history cabinet. After the Napoleonic Wars, Ferdinand VII reopened it as a painting museum in 1819. In 2007 Rafael Moneo added a new wing for temporary exhibitions, a café, and a bookshop.

Must-See Works

• Velázquez — Las Meninas, in Room 12.
• Goya — Black Paintings, The 3rd of May 1808, La maja desnuda.
• El Greco — The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest.
• Hieronymus Bosch — The Garden of Earthly Delights.
• Titian and Rubens, reflecting Habsburg taste.

Visiting Tips

Focus on Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch for a manageable 2.5–3 hour visit. Use the Murillo or Goya gates; book online to skip queues. Free entry in the last two hours of the day (18:00–20:00; Sun 17:00–19:00). Pair with the Reina Sofía (Picasso's Guernica) and Thyssen-Bornemisza to complete Madrid's art triangle.