Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, National museum and art center in Madrid, Spain.
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is a national art museum in Madrid, Spain, housed in a converted 18th-century hospital building. The galleries extend across multiple floors and display modern and contemporary works by Spanish and international artists in spacious rooms.
The building was erected in the 18th century as Madrid's General Hospital and served medical purposes for over two centuries. In September 1992, it opened its doors to the public as an art museum after extensive renovation.
The building carries the name of Spain's Queen Sofia and serves as the country's main center for modern art. Visitors come here to see works by Spanish masters of the 20th century, displayed in large bright halls.
The museum sits near Atocha station and offers free entry during weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons for a few hours. Plan at least two hours to see the main collections, as the rooms are large and numerous.
French architect Jean Nouvel designed a 2005 extension with red exterior elements and angular structures that added 8,000 square meters (86,000 square feet) of exhibition space. This modern addition contrasts with the classical style of the original hospital building and creates a dialogue between old and new.
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