Museo del Prado

The Museo del Prado is a national art museum in central Madrid housed in a neoclassical building designed by Juan de Villanueva. The collection includes over eight thousand paintings and seven hundred sculptures distributed across multiple floors.

The museum opened in 1819 under Ferdinand VII to display the royal art collection from residences of the Spanish Crown. Donations and acquisitions expanded the holdings considerably over the decades.

Visitors often pause before the large canvases by Velázquez and Goya that fill central halls and show scenes from Spanish court life. The collection reflects the taste of Spanish monarchs who gathered works from across Europe over centuries.

Visitors can choose between thematic routes of different lengths to focus on the main works. The Paseo del Arte Pass allows entry to several museums in the area.

During the Spanish Civil War, the museum moved its collection to different locations to protect the works, including temporary storage in Geneva. This rescue operation saved hundreds of masterpieces from destruction.

Location: Madrid

Inception: 1819

Founders: Charles III of Spain

Architects: Juan de Villanueva

Official opening: November 19, 1819

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: Paseo del Prado, 28014 Madrid

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-20:00; Sunday 10:00-19:00

Phone: +34913302800

Website: https://museodelprado.es/en

GPS coordinates: 40.41389,-3.69222

Latest update: December 4, 2025 14:20