The Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, is one of the most visited art museums in the world. It’s renowned for its extensive collection of masterpieces from European artists such as Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco de Goya.
The Prado Museum was founded in 1819 and it houses over 7,000 works of art from the 12th to the 19th centuries. The majority of these pieces were collected by the Spanish royal family and were on display in the Royal Palace until 1868 when it moved to its present location. The museum was officially opened in 1819 under King Ferdinand VII.
The Prado Museum is divided into five different sections: Painting, Sculpture and Works on Paper, Prints and Drawings, Decorative Arts, and Modern Art. The museum has a vast collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings that are highly acclaimed worldwide. It also has an impressive selection of sculptures from Italy, Germany, France and Spain that date back to the 15th century.
In addition to its fine art collections, the Prado Museum also houses several important libraries including a library dedicated to fine arts literature as well as an archive containing documents related to Spanish history and culture. Visitors can also explore a large outdoor garden where there is a café and a gift shop selling traditional Spanish souvenirs.
The Prado Museum is open seven days a week from 10am-8pm (except Mondays when it closes at 5pm). Admission is free for children under 12 years old and discounts are available for seniors over 65 years old. Guided tours are available for those wishing to learn more about the history of this important museum.
Conclusion
The Prado Museum in Madrid is an internationally renowned art museum that houses some of Europe’s finest works of art from medieval through modern times. With its impressive collections of paintings, sculptures and other artifacts as well as its library dedicated to fine arts literature and archive containing documents related to Spanish history and culture – it’s no surprise why this museum has become one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions.