Who hasn’t been on holiday to Madrid and visited the popular and well-known El Prado and Reina Sofía museums? But in Madrid’s capital we can enjoy a broad selection of culture in more than 20 museums. In today’s post we want to make you privy to some of Madrid’s lesser-known museums containing highly interesting exhibits.
Located on Serrano Street in the same building as the Spanish National Library, this museum invites us to learn about Spanish culture and history with a trip from prehistory all the way through to the 19th century.
With six floors and 40 rooms, it displays more than 13,000 archaeological artefacts, as well as historic and artistic ones, most of which have been found in the Iberian Peninsula. You can travel back in time to Prehistory, Protohistory, Ancient Rome, the Mediaeval Ages and the Modern Age, among many other interesting times. Admire well-known works such as the Lady of Elche and archaeological finds such as the Treasure of Guarrazar.
The Liria Palace has opened its doors to the public and will offer guided tours from 19 September. Known as the “Royal Palace’s younger brother,” this building is one of the most important representatives of its age in the heart of Madrid. You can now enjoy the artistic and historical treasures it contains, among which are the portrait of the Grand Duke of Alba by Tiziano, and that of Duchess Cayetana wearing a white gown by Goya.
Visits will be for groups of up to 20 people and will last about 65 minutes. You can see more than a dozen spaces including the library, which contains more than 18,000 volumes with gems such as the last will of King Ferdinand the Catholic or the very first edition of Don Quixote.
Located in the old Neo-classical mansion of the Marquis of Matallana, right in the heart of the Spanish capital. Here we’ll travel back in time to enjoy the art and customs of the 19th century. Admire a wide range of objects, works and pieces of furniture from that time. What’s more, several halls have been recreated to give us a taste of the everyday life of the Spanish bourgeoisie.
Among its art collection are well-known paintings such as Francisco de Goya’s San Gregorio Magno or a portrait of Queen Isabel II by Federico de Madrazo.
Three museums containing high-quality works that invite us to delve into the past and relive different ages of Madrid’s rich history.
*Image from the website of the Archaeological Museum.
