Museo Del Prado
Museo Nacional del Prado
The Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid is a world-renowned institution housing an exceptionally important royal collection. Founded on 16th-century acquisitions by Charles V and thriving under Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs, this collection forms the museum's core with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch. Originally designed by Juan de Villanueva in 1785 and opened in 1819, the museum has evolved through over 2,300 new acquisitions, including Barón Emile d'Erlanger’s 1881 donation of Goya’s Black Paintings and significant bequests from Don Pablo Bosch and Don Pedro Fernández Durán.
Visitor Informations
📍 Madrid, Spain
Museo Nacional del Prado, Retiro, 28014 Madrid – Spain ↗
🌐 Official Site
https://www.museodelprado.es/en ↗
ℹ️ Information
Plan your visit and book your tickets. Getting Here ↗ Book Your Tickets ↗
🕘 Opening Hours
10 am ~ 8 pm
None Closed / Sundays and holidays until 7 pm Visit Official Site ↗
Must-see Artworks
The Museo Nacional del Prado offers an unparalleled journey through art history, spanning from Spanish, Italian, French, and Flemish paintings up to 1800 to specialized collections of Sculpture, Decorative Arts, and Prints. This vast timeline includes the "Prado extendido" and "The female perspective," providing a comprehensive view of artistic evolution across centuries.
At "The Art Here," we particularly highlight the museum’s 19th-century Painting collection. As the largest school in the museum with 2,690 works, it features masterpieces of Spanish art ranging from Neo-classicism to Naturalism. Visitors can explore twelve dedicated galleries in the Villanueva Building, showcasing the realist approach of Eduardo Rosales, the Luminist painting of Mariano Fortuny, and iconic history paintings such as Francisco Pradilla’s Doña Juana la Loca and Antonio Gisbert’s The Execution of Torrijos and his Companions.
From the romantic landscapes of Genaro Pérez Villaamil to the masterful portraits by Federico Madrazo and the transition to naturalism with Joaquín Sorolla, our guide focuses on this rich, diverse era.
Select an artwork to explore more.
Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz
An absolute masterpiece of historical painting, this work depicts Queen Joanna I of Castile watching over the coffin of her husband, Philip the Handsome. Painted in Rome, it achieved international fame for its "Pradilla style," blending vigorous realism with a romantic vision. The composition masterfully captures the Queen's intense passion, jealousy, and madness amidst a desolate landscape, reinforced by dramatic atmospheric elements like smoke and wind.
Location📍 Sala 075
Antonio Gisbert Pérez
Once considered a sketch, this work is actually an unfinished reduced replica of the original masterpiece. The artist reused a panel previously containing another composition, as revealed by X-ray analysis. The quality of the painting on this support allows for a unique appreciation of the artist's careful brushwork and pictorial values, reflecting Gisbert's practice of creating smaller versions of his major historical works.
Location📍 Sala 075
Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida
This masterpiece culminates Sorolla's 'children in the water' motif, capturing three nude boys at the sea's edge in Valencia. Painted from life without previous studies, the work demonstrates a brilliant balance between static postures and dynamic placement. The artist focuses on the movement of water and the play of light on wet bodies, using broad brushstrokes of turquoise, blue, and violet. The composition lacks a horizon, pulling the viewer into the scene through the boys' diagonal positions and the shifting chromatic intensity of their tanned skin under the intense Mediterranean sun.
Location📍 Room 060A
Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida
This emblematic social realist painting depicts the interior hold of a fishing boat where two elderly sailors carefully tend to a young boy injured at sea. Inspired by the novel Flor de mayo by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, the work is rendered with the dramatic solemnity of a secular pietà. Sorolla masterfully uses light streaming through the boat’s hatch to illuminate the somber scene, contrasting the stoic composure of the fishermen with the silvery reflections of the freshly caught fish. It earned a First Medal at the 1895 National Exhibition, marking a key success in Sorolla's early career.
Location📍 Room 061A
Historical Overview
Designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785, the building was ordered by King Charles III for the Natural History Cabinet. However, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza, designated it as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. This institution, soon renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado, opened to the public in November 1819.
The museum's first catalogue included 311 paintings, while its total collection comprised over 1,510 pictures from Royal Residences. This royal collection began to increase significantly in the 16th century under Charles V and continued to thrive under the succeeding Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs. Later, it was enriched by the Museo de la Trinidad and Museo de Arte Moderno, including Barón Emile d'Erlanger’s 1881 donation of Goya’s Black Paintings. Growth continued with Rafael Moneo’s expansion (2001–2007) and the Museo Nacional del Prado Act in 2003, which modernized the museum's governance.
Architecture
The Museo del Prado completed its most significant extension via Rafael Moneo's project, selected in 1998. Under Ministry of Culture supervision, work began in 2002 to integrate the Jerónimos Cloister. The new building adds 22,000 square metres—a 50% increase—ensuring an ordered and spacious arrangement for the collection. This expansion forms the Museo del Prado Campus, incorporating the Casón and Salón de Reinos (remains of Buen Retiro Palace) within the Paseo del Prado district.
- Architectural Significance: Yes (Neoclassical & Modern Extensions)
- Museum Founded: 1819
When to Visit
For more details, visit the official website ↗
General Hours
10 am ~ 8 pm
Monday to Saturday
10 am ~ 7 pm
Sundays and holidays
Limited Opening Hours
10 am ~ 2 pm
1/6, 12/24, 12/31
Closed
None
Holidays: 1/1, 5/1, 12/25
Special Notes for Visitors
- Closed: 1 January, 1 May and 25 December
- Limited opening hours: 6 January, 24 and 31 December (10 am ~ 2 pm)
Admission
Admission Fee
- Permanent Collections: Paid Admission
- Temporary Exhibitions: Paid Admission
- Admission Policy
- Museum tickets cover entry to the full Collection as well as temporary exhibitions.
- A time pass is mandatory for admission. Ensure you select your visit date and time at the point of purchase.
- Check the official website for detailed rates ↗
Free admission hours
- Free Admission: Enjoy free access to the permanent Collection during the final two hours before closing, available until full capacity is reached.
- Reduced Admission: A 50% discount is applied to temporary exhibition tickets during these free access hours.
⚠️ Admission varies by exhibition and visitor category. ⚠️ Rates and conditions are subject to change. Please visit the official website for current information.
Complimentary Admission
To benefit from free or reduced admission, visitors must belong to one of the following categories and present official, valid, and updated proof of status at the ticket office on the day of the visit.
- Individuals & Students
- People under 18 years old.
- Students aged 18 to 25.
- Students over 25 pursuing undergraduate/graduate degrees in Arts (Spanish Education System).
- Social & Professional Groups:
- People with a disability level of 33% or higher.
- Legally unemployed individuals.
- Active teaching staff.
- Large families (at least 1 adult and 3 children, or 2 children if one has a disability).
- Official Memberships & Professionals:
- Official Tour Guides, journalists, and staff of Spanish State Museums.
- Members of ICOM, FAMP, APME, ANABAD, AEM, and the Spanish Royal Academies (History, Fine Arts of San Fernando, and Royal Spanish Academy).
- Full Eligibility Guide → Read about free admission
Reduced admission
- People over 65 years old
- Youth card holders
- Members of large families
- Full Eligibility Guide → Read about reduced admission
💡 Pro Tips for Your Visit
- Enjoy a private visit to the museum For a more exclusive experience, the museum offers private access before it opens to the general public.
- Private Morning Visit (9:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
- Paid admission, minimum group size of 12 people, accompaniment by a guide is required.
- Full Eligibility Guide → Read about free admission
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#Museo Nacional del Prado #Museo Del Prado #Madrid Art Museums #National Museum of Paintings #Royal Museum of Paintings #Spain Art Journey #Masterpieces in Madrid #19th-century Painting
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📍 Museo Del Prado, Madrid
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