About the museums
The visit combines two of the most representative cultural spaces in Madrid: the Prado National Museum and the Royal Palace of Madrid. Both reflect the historical and artistic evolution of Spain from the Hapsburg monarchy to the present day. The Prado, inaugurated in 1819 as a royal museum, was created to preserve the collections of the Crown, while the Royal Palace symbolizes the monarchic power of the 18th century, built after the fire of the old Alcazar. Together they offer a complete overview of Spanish art and history.
What to see during the visit
The Prado Museum features masterpieces by Diego Velázquez, such as Las Meninas, as well as paintings by Francisco de Goya, El Bosco and Peter Paul Rubens. The tour continues at the Royal Palace, where the Main Staircase, the Throne Room and the Royal Armory stand out, in addition to frescoes, tapestries and historic furniture that show the splendor of the Spanish court and its artistic heritage.
“Time also paints.” – Francisco de Goya
Curiosities
- The Prado Museum houses one of the most important collections of European painting in the world, with special emphasis on the Spanish school.
- The Royal Palace has more than 3,000 rooms, making it one of the largest royal palaces in Western Europe.
- Many of the Prado’s works come directly from the personal collections of the Spanish kings, which explains the strong presence of favorite court artists such as Velázquez and Rubens.
