The Prado Museum is located in Madrid, on the famous "Art Promenade", together with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Queen Sofía Art Centre it forms one of the most intense museum routes in the world. This Neoclassical building was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva.
Initially it was conceived as a building for the Natural History Cabinet, but in the end, on the initiative of King Ferdinand VII, it opened to the public on 19 November 1819 under the name "Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture".
The uniqueness of the Prado lies in the fact that its foundation is the art collection of the Spanish crown, which monarchs assembled for three centuries in a row. Unlike museums created through military conquests or market purchases, the Prado`s collection directly reflects the tastes and political ambitions of the monarchs of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties. Today the museum holds more than 8,600 paintings, more than 700 sculptures, as well as about 6,000 drawings and a large number of engravings and decorative applied objects.
The history of the Prado Museum
From the "Meadow of Saint Jerome" to the palace of science
The history of the Prado begins in the 18th century. Charles III wanted to create for Madrid an urban space worthy of the capital, and planned the "Meadow" (Prado) next to the Monastery of Saint Jerome as a majestic boulevard. His architect Juan de Villanueva designed several buildings, each of which was to serve the "elevation of the sciences": the building of the Natural History Cabinet (today the main building of the Prado), the Botanical Garden and the observatory.
This Neoclassical building was completed in 1785 and is one of the outstanding examples of Spanish Neoclassical architecture. The facade is decorated with busts of the most important Spanish painters, architects and sculptors.
1819: the opening of the museum
After the Napoleonic Wars, King Ferdinand VII decided to open the royal collections to the public. On 19 November 1819 the museum received its first visitors. Initially 311 paintings were displayed — almost exclusively by Spanish masters. Gradually the collection expanded through acquisitions and the redistribution of funds.
The 19th–20th centuries: expansion and new acquisitions
In 1868 the museum was nationalised and received the name "National Museum of Painting and Sculpture". In 1872 it received the collection of the Trinidad Museum, which included works by El Greco, Murillo and other masters. In the 20th century the collections of the Duke of Osuna, the Fernández Durán collection and other important gifts entered the Prado.
An important event was the addition in 1971 of the Casón del Buen Retiro museum with 19th-century collections and in the 1980s — the legacy of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (although the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum itself later became a separate institution).
The 21st century: expansion and a new building
In 2007 the museum`s extension, designed by the architect Rafael Moneo, opened. The new building, connected to the main building, made it possible to increase the exhibition space and accommodate temporary exhibitions. In 2019 the museum celebrated its bicentenary.
The main treasures of the Prado Museum: what not to miss
"Las Meninas" by Diego Velázquez
The most famous painting of the Prado and one of the greatest paintings in the history of Western art. Painted in 1656, it depicts a scene in the artist`s studio: Velázquez himself stands behind the easel, before him is the Infanta Margaret Theresa surrounded by ladies-in-waiting, dwarfs and a dog, and in the mirror on the back wall are reflected King Philip IV and Queen Mariana. The painting is a complex play with space, gaze and reality.
"The Third of May 1808 in Madrid" by Francisco Goya
One of the most dramatic canvases in the history of art. Painted in 1814, the painting depicts the shooting of Madrid rebels by French soldiers. Goya contrasts the defenceless victims with the faceless ranks of the executioners. This work is considered one of the first examples of modern political art.
The "Majas" by Goya
"The Naked Maja" and "The Clothed Maja" are two paintings painted around 1797–1800. "The Naked Maja" is one of the first paintings in Western art to depict a naked woman without mythological or allegorical justification. Both paintings belonged to the Prime Minister Manuel Godoy and probably depict his lover, the Duchess of Alba.
"The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch
The most mysterious triptych in the history of art. Created around 1490–1510, it depicts paradise, earthly life and hell in fantastic, surreal images. Bosch populates his canvases with strange creatures, hybrids and symbols whose meaning still causes debate.
"The Descent from the Cross" by Rogier van der Weyden
A masterpiece of 15th-century Netherlandish painting, acquired by the Spanish crown. The composition astonishes with its emotional power and detail. This is one of the most significant works of the Northern Renaissance in the Prado`s collection.
"The Lance" (Crucifixion) by Diego Velázquez
A late work by Velázquez, painted around 1632. The painting depicts Christ on the cross with extraordinary restraint and spiritual depth. It is considered one of the summits of Spanish religious painting.
"Portrait of Pope Innocent X" by Velázquez
Although the famous version is in the Doria Pamphilj Gallery in Rome, the Prado has its own version, as well as many other portraits by Velázquez.
The Titian collection
The Prado possesses one of the largest collections of Titian in the world. The Spanish kings, especially Philip II, were his passionate patrons. Here you can see "Venus with a Mirror", "Danaë", "The Rape of Europa" and other masterpieces.
The El Greco collection
The Prado holds a significant collection of works by El Greco, including "The Adoration of the Shepherds", "The Trinity" and "The Resurrection". Although most of El Greco`s legacy is in Toledo, the Prado`s collection gives an idea of his unique style.
"The Adoration of the Magi" and other works by Rubens
The Prado possesses the largest collection of Rubens in the world — more than 90 works. Among them are "The Adoration of the Magi", "The Garden of Love", "The Three Graces" and many portraits and religious compositions.
The layout of the Prado Museum: how to find your way
The main building (Edificio Villanueva)
The main building of the museum, opened in 1819. Here are the main collections: Spanish, Italian and Flemish painting. The entrance for the main exposition.
The Moneo extension
The building opened in 2007, connected to the main building. Here are located temporary exhibitions, a cafe, a shop and additional exhibition halls.
The Casón del Buen Retiro
A separate building nearby, where the 19th-century collections and works of art transferred from the Trinidad Museum are housed.
Levels and halls
The museum is organised by schools of painting:
• Spanish painting — Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Murillo, Ribera;
• Italian painting — Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Veronese;
• Flemish painting — Rubens, Van Dyck, Bruegel, Bosch;
• German and Netherlandish painting — Dürer, Van der Weyden, Memling;
• French and English painting — Poussin, Claude Lorrain, Gainsborough.
The main routes
• Express route (2–3 hours): "Las Meninas" by Velázquez → the "Majas" by Goya → "The Third of May" by Goya → "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Bosch → "The Descent from the Cross" by Van der Weyden → Titian.
• Extended route (4–5 hours): Add El Greco, Rubens, Murillo, Ribera, Italian painting.
Practical information
• Opening hours: Monday–Saturday: 10:00–20:00; Sundays and holidays: 10:00–19:00;
• Free admission: Monday–Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00, Sundays from 17:00 to 19:00;
• Online tickets with a fixed time help to avoid queues.
• Time: allow at least 3 hours to see the main halls. A full circuit may take a whole day.
• Photos: permitted, but without flash and tripod.
• Night tours: special evening events are sometimes held.
The Prado is not only an art collection but also a monument of Spanish history and culture. It remains an obligatory stop for any traveller interested in art, and one of the main symbols of Madrid.
