Madrid is a city full to the brim with museums. But how do you choose which are the best museums in Madrid? From art to railways, here are some examples of must-see museums.
Best museums in Madrid for art
First of all, we must mention the eponymous Prado museum. This mainly has 16th to 19th century art and features most of the Spanish masters. This is regarded as being one of the best museums in Madrid, Spain and indeed, Europe. It is not dissimilar to the Louvre. Some of the artists featured are Goya, El Greco, Velazquez and Bosch. The highlights are Bosch´s Garden of Earthly Delights and the two Majas by Goya.
Second to the Prado is the Thyssen-Bornemisza. This is also widely recognised as being of the best museums in Madrid. This collections here are more European than Spanish. It features works from the Italian Renaissance, French Impressionism and also American artists. They have regular exhibitions, which change often.
The modernist sister of these two museums is of course the Reina Sofia. This art space is huge and could easily take up a whole day. The art is mainly contemporary and features sculpture and video. Photography exhibitions are also common here. The artists are largely Spanish but other European and American artists feature frequently. The most famous painting housed here is Picasso´s Guernica. You can also see a wide variety of Salvador Dali´s works.
Another lesser-known but equally beautiful museum is the Sorolla Museum. This could easily be one of the best museums in Madrid. It houses a collection of the Spanish artist Sorolla´s works, as well as having a quaint replica of an Andalusian patio inside. The gardens are extremely peaceful and it is a worthwhile visit.
The best museums in Madrid for culture
The museum scene in Madrid is laden with art. However, there are also some museums which vie for the title of best museums in Madrid.
The first is the Museo Ferrocarril. This is a railway museum, inside a disused railway station. It features restored locomotives, carriages and memorabilia. If you are a train fanatic, it is truly a marvel. It is also a great place to take children, as many of the exhibits are interactive. The museum also has a market every month, with local artesanal products.
Another contender for the title of best museums in Madrid is the Museo del Romanticismo. This features details from the Spanish Romantic era, including furniture, jewellery, clothing and art. There is also a wonderful cafe set into an indoor terrace, with a stunning garden. You can also see the pistol with which the poet Mariano Jose de Larra shot himself with. Not for the fainthearted!
An obvious choice in the list of best museums in Madrid is that of the Royal Palace. You can tour through the rooms that were used up until the 20th century by the royal family. The furniture and fixtures are truly opulent and provide a detailed insight into the lives of the modern royal family´s predecessors. The exterior is also marvellous and a wonderful spot to take photographs of the city.
Finally, on our list of best museums in Madrid, we have the Planetarium. This was recently reopened after a refurbishment and is much more interactive than before. There are projection and exhibition rooms, as well as a tower equipped with a telescope. This is one of the best museums in Madrid for children. The projections are truly impressive, and contain lots of information for even the most knowledgeable.
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