Museo del Prado – pure art enjoyment!

Visit the Museo del Prado and let yourself be enchanted by the fascination and beauty of art. Whether you are an art connoisseur or simply curious about the world of art, the Prado Museum has something for everyone.

The Museo del Prado in Madrid has one of the most important and oldest art collections in the world. With works by masters such as Velázquez, Goya and El Greco, it offers insights into an impressive range of art styles and eras.

The Museo del Prado is created

The idea of making a large national art collection accessible to the public goes back to King Charles III, who reigned in the 18th century. However, the actual planning of the museum only began under his grandson, King Ferdinand VII, and a suitable building was not found until 1818.

The origins of the museum can be dated back to 1819, when it was opened under the name “Museo Real de Pintura y Escultura” (Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture).

The museum was housed in a neoclassical building that was originally designed as a natural science cabinet by Juan de Villanueva in 1785. The opening of the museum was a significant cultural step for Spain, which at the time had an extensive collection of works of art, most of which came from the royal collections. These collections included important works by masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Titian and Rubens, which form the basis of the museum’s current collection.

The museum was originally designed for the royal family and court society, but was soon opened to the general public.

Over the years, the museum has been expanded and renovated several times to accommodate the growing collections and to present the works of art appropriately. Particularly significant was the expansion in 2007, when the Prado significantly increased its exhibition space.

The Prado Museum has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021 (together with the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Reina Sofía).

Museum visit – planning tips

A visit to the Prado Museum should be well prepared. Although it is possible to buy tickets directly on site, you should allow plenty of time. The crowds are always quite large and admission is limited. There is a special row that is only for visitors without a ticket. There are helpers on site to assign you to the correct row.

It is better to book your ticket for the Museo del Prado online in advance. You also have to queue here, but the queue is definitely much shorter. To make sure you are in the right line, you should definitely ask outside the museum. There are lots of friendly staff on hand to help you.

There is a bag check and it is forbidden to take photos in the exhibition rooms. Great care is taken to ensure that this rule is adhered to.

We were relatively unprepared and didn’t know exactly what we would see in the Museo del Prado. Fortunately, there is a free folding map that tells you what you can find in which room. It helped us a lot, as the individual exhibition areas were quite convoluted and the paths were sometimes confusing.

We also completely underestimated the size of the museum. There is so much to see that you should plan several hours. Or even better two days, because at some point you simply can’t take in the beauty of the objects. After 2 hours, we just strolled around and marveled.

What can you see in the Prado Museum?

The museum’s collection includes over 5000 drawings, 2000 prints, 1000 coins and medals and almost 2000 other works of art. The sculpture collection has more than 700 objects. There is also the world’s best collection of Spanish painters as well as Dutch masters and some works by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt.

Spanish painters

With 4,900 works, the Prado Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Spanish art. Particularly noteworthy are the works of the great Spanish masters such as Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Goya and El Greco.

Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”, one of the museum’s most famous works, draws us in with its fascinating depiction of perspective and light. Velázquez’s ability to depict emotions and characters so realistically makes you linger in front of this painting again and again.

I particularly liked the works of Francisco de Goya, probably the most famous Spanish painter. His works, which range from bright, lively portraits to dark and even gruesome scenes, show the versatility of his artistic skills. I find the “Black Paintings”, a series of paintings that Goya created in the last years of his life, particularly impressive.

Finally, the El Greco collection, with its characteristic elongated figures and dramatic play of light, offers a fascinating insight into the Spanish Renaissance.

Italian painters

The Museo del Prado offers a rich and varied selection of Italian paintings, ranging from the early Renaissance to the Baroque. The more than 1000 works by artists such as Fra Angelico, Sandro Botticelli, Caravaggio and Titian offer an insight into the development of Italian art.

One of the highlights is certainly Fra Angelico’s “The Annunciation”, which captivates with its soft colors and peaceful depiction of the divine scene. The attention to detail and vibrant colors are a wonderful example of the beauty of the early Renaissance.

Botticelli’s “The Adoration of the Magi” is another highlight. With its vivid depiction of the biblical scene and its remarkable mastery of color and form, this painting offers an astonishing insight into Botticelli’s artistic genius.

The Prado’s collection also includes several works by Caravaggio. His dramatic use of light and shadow have shaped an unmistakable style. His paintings “David and Goliath” and “The Coronation with Thorns” are two of the most impressive works in the collection.

I particularly liked Titian’s “Venus and Adonis”. The vivid depiction of movement and emotion in this painting is a perfect example of Titian’s masterful technique.

Flemish painters

Flemish painting, known for its detailed and realistic depictions, occupies an important place in the Prado’s collection. For example, there are works by artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Hieronymus Bosch.

One of the highlights of the collection is certainly “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch. This three-part work is known for its detailed and imaginative depiction of heaven, earth and hell.

Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most famous Flemish painters, is represented in the Prado with an impressive number of works. His vibrant paintings, such as “The Three Graces” and “The Triumph of the Eucharist”, are characterized by their vivid play of colors and masterful depiction of the human body. In this area, Rubens’ paintings were the works I liked best.

Anthony van Dyck, a pupil of Rubens, is also prominently represented. His portraits, such as that of “Queen Isabella Clara Eugenia”, show his remarkable ability to capture character and emotion.

Visitor information

Address

Paseo del Prado
28014 Madrid, Spanien