Prado Museum

+ 35,000 works of art
Main Spanish art gallery
+ 3 million annual visitors

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Prado Museum

The Prado National Museum, located in the centre of Madrid, is one of the most famous art galleries in the world. Annually, the Prado Museum is one of the most visited cultural destinations in the world, with almost 3.5 million visitors a year.

The building designed by Juan Villanueva was first a Cabinet of Natural Sciences until Ferdinand VII made the decision to use the building to create a Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. The museum first opened to the public in 1819 as the 'Royal Museum of Paintings', with the intention of being an art school, although it ended up as a gallery with the motive of centralising the royal family's collections and making them accessible to the people.
Works of Goya, one of the most represented artists, have been on display since the museum opened. The most outstanding works are The Naked Maja or Saturn Devouring His Son by Goya, together with The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, Las Meninas by Velázquez or The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. During the 19th century, the museum expanded due to donations from monarchs who brought works by European artists such as Titian, Rubens and Rembrandt. Later, more works by Goya and other Spanish court paintings were acquired, establishing the Museum as a key centre for European art.

In the 20th century, the museum continued to expand and, in the 1950s-60s, it experienced a period of economic and cultural stabilisation that consolidated the Prado Museum as a international benchmark for classical art. As a result, new buildings were created as part of the museum, which today has 12,950 art works, 121 galleries and up to four temporary exhibition halls.

The museum with the most Goyas

The Prado Museum has 152 works by Goya, including many of the painter’s most famous and important works. Goya has been appreciated since the origins of this museum, which is why, to this day, he is the painter to whom the most space is dedicated.

The museum also houses the ‘Black paintings’ which Goya painted directly from the walls of his house. One of the works belonging to this series is Saturn Devouring His Son. Other Goya’s best known works include The Third of May 1808 and The Naked Maja.

It was not to be an art gallery

The building that houses the Prado Museum, designed by Juan Villanueva, was originally a Natural Sciences Cabinet. However, after Napoleon’s invasion, the idea arose of creating a museum similar to those in the rest of Europe. Ferdinand VII finally decided to turn the building into a museum.

Over the years, the Prado Museum has expanded and increased its collection to the more than 34,000 pieces it houses today. It has become one of the most important museums in Europe, with 8,000 paintings by great artists such as Bosch, Velázquez, Titian and Goya, and more than 1,000 sculptures, decorative arts, drawings and engravings. In order to show all these works to the public, the Juan Villanueva building has been complemented with new extensions that preserve the essence of the building but improve the visitor experience.

Why ‘Prado’ Museum?

The name of the Prado Museum comes from the fact that the museum itself is located in what used to be a meadow. The meadow of San Jerónimo was located in the same space where the Prado museum is located today. In fact, the Royal Church of San Jerónimo el Real is right next to the museum.

Over time, the area has transformed into an important cultural and artistic centre of Madrid with great international relevance. Although the proximity to the Church of San Jerónimo has given the area a historical and religious character.

Las Meninas

One of Velázquez’s most representative works can be found in the Prado Museum. It is one of Velázquez’s greatest works and one of the ones that took him the most work, as he wanted to convey a sense of life and reality.

Although it was not always called Las Meninas, from 1843, the Prado catalogue entitled it as we know it today. This change gives meaning to the work, as it is a reinterpretation of the Portuguese that refers to the ladies-in-waiting who accompanied, in this case, the Infanta Margarita at the 17th century Spanish court. Furthermore, the presence of the mirror in the painting turns the work into a reflection on reality and illusion, which has led to Las Meninas being the subject of numerous studies and analyses.

The Prado Museum during the Civil War

During the Spanish Civil War, the Prado Museum experienced a crucial stage in the conservation of its immense collection. The threat of bombing and looting meant that the director of the museum at the time, José Pérez de Ayala, organised an evacuation plan for the most valuable works, such as those by Velázquez, Goya and Bosch.

The works were sent to Valencia, Barcelona and Gerona but, as the attacks increased, they were finally moved to France and Geneva where they were deposited in the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The chaos of war made their transport very difficult, but most of the works were left intact and were able to return to the Prado Museum in 1939.

You must keep in mind the closing time

The last access to the museum is 30 minutes before closing time. The galleries will be vacated 10 minutes before closing time.

The visit to the museum can last 2 hours

The tour of the museum depends on the time spent in each room. Following a minimum tour of the museum’s most important works, your visit can take up to 2 hours.

Carry ID card

To enter the museum you must have a valid passport or ID card with you, as you will have to show it at the security desk.

Respect the timetable for your entry

Due to the capacity of the museum and its large number of daily visitors, you must always respect the time pass assigned for the visit.

Wear comfortable shoes

Due to the size of the museum, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for your visit.

Prado Museum

The best experiences

Prado Museum: Tickets + Audioguide

Guided Tour of the Prado Museum

Art Triangle: Tickets for the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and Thyssen Museum

Monumental Madrid: Prado Museum, Walking Tour and Royal Palace

Choose your visit

Choose day and time

It goes through every corner of. Prado Museum

Prado Museum

The museum with the most Goyas

It was not to be an art gallery

Why ‘Prado’ Museum?

Las Meninas

The Prado Museum during the Civil War

Recommendations for the visit

You must keep in mind the closing time

The visit to the museum can last 2 hours

Carry ID card

Respect the timetable for your entry

Wear comfortable shoes

Frequently Asked Questions

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