The Prado, Spain's most visited art museum, was designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785, and it was opened to the public in 1819. Its collection focuses primarily on Spanish works from the 12th to the 18th century, featuring plenty of Goya and Velazquez (and more portraits of saints than I need to see in an entire lifetime). My own taste runs much more toward modern and contemporary art--my favorite museum is the Reina Sofia, just a short walk from the Prado--but it was still great to see Velazquez's Las Meninas in person. Well worth the visit, even if much of the collection isn't exactly my cup of tea.
"Prado" means "meadow"--an allusion to the museum's parklike setting. Even though the city has grown up around the building, it's still beautiful, close to the city's botanic gardens and surrounded by fountains, sculptures, and green space. The building itself is a satisfying neoclassical behemoth in central Madrid, as you can see below.
"Prado" means "meadow"--an allusion to the museum's parklike setting. Even though the city has grown up around the building, it's still beautiful, close to the city's botanic gardens and surrounded by fountains, sculptures, and green space. The building itself is a satisfying neoclassical behemoth in central Madrid, as you can see below.
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