Madrid: An Artist's Haven

Madrid is home to a number of museums and galleries, which house a large range of artifacts from masterpieces by legends such as Bosch, Van Gogh and Monet to the works of contemporary and unknown artists. The Spanish capital is undeniably the art capital of Europe and an art lover’s paradise.

Popular Art Galleries in Madrid
Madrid is home to the 'Golden Triangle' or the 'Triangle of Art,' which comprises of three of the biggest galleries in the city:

The Prado Museum
Built in the 1700s, the Prado was initially a natural sciences museum. It was later converted into an art museum by Joseph Bonaparte and inaugurated in 1819. As one of the biggest galleries in the world, the Prado houses more than 9,000 paintings and artifacts belonging to the period between the twelfth and nineteenth century. About 1,500 paintings are displayed at a time on a rotational basis. The artworks reflect different schools of thought, from the Flemish to the Italian. A number of religious artifacts are also displayed at the Prado. Popular artists represented in the gallery are Brueghel, Van Dyck, Van der Weyden, Fra Angélico, Rembrandt, Rubens, Botticelli, Rafael and Goya.

The Reina Sofia
This museum is famous for its modern art exhibitions. The Reina Sofia has an exclusive collection of 20th century Spanish art. Popular artists represented include Picasso, Miró, Julio González, Oteiza, Equipo Crónica and Gerardo Rueda. Its main highlight is Picasso’s ‘Guernica,’ one of the most popular works of the twentieth century. The museum also hosts a number of activities, including art conferences and courses, poetry recitals as well as modern music concerts. It also houses Spain’s largest art library.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The gallery houses about 800 paintings from the thirteenth through the twentieth century. It has the artworks of legends such as Raphael, Titian, Monet, Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh and Rodin. More contemporary works by artists such as Freud, Pollock, Bacon, Picasso and Lichtenstein can also be found on display. The Thyssen offers a very intimate setting for viewing the art on display.

The 'Golden Triangle' is located in the most attractive region of Madrid. These are located in close proximity to a number of hotels in Madrid and can be easily accessed via the Metro rails.

The art offerings in Madrid are not restricted to the popular art galleries. There are a number of other smaller museums and galleries, including:
* Museo Lázaro Galdiano: Built in 1903, the gallery has an Italian architecture. It is known for its decorative art and Goya portraits.
* Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando: This houses over 1,500 paintings from the fifteenth century onwards. The gallery is known for representing Spanish artists.
* Museo de América: It houses paintings and artifacts belonging to Central and South America. The highlight of the museum is Pre-Columbian art.

Hence, if you are an ardent art lover, you must visit Madrid to admire the art and seek inspiration.