<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMadrid is known for its incredible museums with extensive artworks by some of Spain\u2019s most influential artists like Picasso, Velazquez, El Greco, etc. While most travelers plan to visit some of the Spanish capital\u2019s best-known museums like the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, there are many more houses-turned museums and exhibitions worth visiting for anyone looking to delve further into Spanish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Sorolla Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Sorolla Museum, one of Madrid\u2019s most important house-museums, is set in the former family home of Joaquin Sorolla, otherwise known as the \u201cMaster of Light\u201d for his iridescent canvasses. One of the best-preserved house-museums of an artist in Europe, the Sorolla Museum successfully retained the home\u2019s original atmosphere, while housing Sorolla\u2019s largest collection of works. Situated in the Chamberi neighborhood, this family home is where Sorolla lived from 1911 until his death in 1923, when it was donated to the Spanish government by his widow with the condition that it be turned into a museum to honor her late husband. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the museum, which opened ten years later, travelers will see the house\u2019s original d\u00e9cor, over 1,200 of Sorolla\u2019s paintings and drawings, and the art pieces he collected throughout his lifetime including sculptures, ceramics, traditional clothes and jewelry, letters, and photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Sorolla Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Cerralbo Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOnce home to the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo, this mansion-turned-museum next to the Plaza de Espa\u00f1a showcases a stunning display of 19th century opulence. Visitors to this lesser known, yet influential museum are transported to the life of aristocracy through the Neo-Baroque and Rococo design elements that adorn the palace. The Marquis of Cerralbo donated his home to the Spanish nation in order to keep his collections together, resulting in the Cerralbo Museum, which is made up of over 50,000 objects of grandeur for travelers to gaze at, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, weapons, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>L\u00e1zaro Galdiano Foundation Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLocated in a stately mansion in the Salamanca neighborhood, the L\u00e1zaro Galdiano Museum houses an exquisite collection of 4,820 artworks, divided across four floors to enhance visitors\u2019 experiences while they discover the museum\u2019s masterpieces. This museum was once home to Jos\u00e9 L\u00e1zaro Galdiano, a clever businessman and renowned publisher with a large art collection and a great love for books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his lifetime, L\u00e1zaro Galdiano was known for hosting literary gatherings, with some of Spain\u2019s most influential writers like the prominent essayist, philosopher, and poet, Miguel de Unamuno. At this museum, visitors will find paintings by some of the most celebrated artists of their time including, Goya and El Greco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t miss: Hieronymus Bosch<\/strong>\u2019s St. John the Baptist in Meditation<\/em>, Goya\u2019s Witches\u2019 Sabbath<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
L\u00e1zaro Galdiano Foundation Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Centro de Arte de Reina Sof\u00eda: Contemporary Art Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOpened by Queen Sof\u00eda in 1986, the Centro de Arte de Reina Sof\u00eda is Madrid’s avant-garde center for contemporary art. The sleek modern building was created by the architect Antonio Fern\u00e1ndez Alba and has features that recall the Pompidou Center in Paris, especially the three glass towers that house the elevators on the outside of the building. There is also a lovely garden in the inner courtyard filled with sculptures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The museum represents Spanish contemporary art with a collection that includes masterpieces by Juan Mir\u00f3, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dal\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Prado Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPrado Museum is located in the heart of Madrid and if you are an art lover you can’t miss it. Inaugurated in 1819, Prado Museum is the home to more than 7,000 paintings and is one of the places you must visit in Madrid. The world-class Prado Museum displays an endless array of masterpieces created during the Golden Age of Spain. The museum is housed in an 18th-century Royal Palace that rivals the palace of Versailles. <\/p>\n\n\n
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The Prado Museum displays around 2,300 pieces of artwork in more than 100 rooms, located on three floors.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is the public institution that houses in the Villahermosa Palace one of the most important pictorial collections in the world with almost 900 works of art collected over seven decades by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family. The Spanish State acquired ownership of the Collection in 1993, thus giving rise to the Paseo del Prado, Triangle of Art in Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prado<\/strong>, the Reina Sof\u00eda<\/strong>, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza<\/strong>, three of Madrid’s main museums, are all on a great boulevard with gardens and fountains created in the 18th century, popularly known as the Art Walk<\/strong> or Golden Triangle of Art<\/strong>. It\u2019s home to works by universal great masters, from Vel\u00e1zquez, Goya, Picasso and Dal\u00ed to Van Gogh, Hopper and Joan Mir\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can download this Essential Art Walk app<\/a> to learn more about 24 great masterpieces they hold between the 3 museums. A Do it yourself tour of Art in Madrid. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n