The Art Route, a world of painting within easy reach

A route that will take you through the past, present and future of painting: this is the "Paseo del Arte" (Art Avenue) in Madrid. Spain's capital is home to three of the world's most important collections: the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía National Museum. All three have recently undergone extensions..

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain; it is also the country's art capital. This is the impression you will inevitably have when you discover its famous "Art Route". There is no other place in the world with as many masterpieces crammed into such a small area.
 
The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía National Museum are the stars of this unique route, which will lead you on a wide-ranging journey through the history and evolution of painting. Now there is yet another reason to visit them: the new extensions built to provide more room for their facilities, and which are genuine architectural treasures in their own right. Inside and out, you will find these museums a delight.
 
The three museums are located just a few metres from each other and are connected by one of the city's main avenues: the Paseo del Prado. Along this route, shaded by leafy trees, you can see such emblematic landmarks as the 18th-century fountains of Cibeles and Neptune, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Astronomical Observatory.

It has one of the world's most important collections of paintings, with some of the finest works from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools from the 12^th to the 18^th centuries.
 
Some of the most outstanding paintings include "Las Meninas" or "The Family of Philip IV" (also known as "The Maids of Honour") by Velazquez; Goya's Majas; and "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch, in addition to works by artists of the stature of Titian, Rubens and El Greco. Since it opened in November 1819, the Prado Museum has grown steadily; however, its latest expansion is the most ambitious in its history.
 
The new building, designed by the prominent Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, features the use of glass for natural lighting and monumental bronze doors, the work of the sculptor Cristina Iglesias.

This museum represents the perfect transition, a link between the classic works of the Prado Museum and the contemporary style found in the Reina Sofía Art Centre.
 
It is one of the most valuable private collections in the world. The need for more space for its acquisitions was the reason behind the construction of a new building in the same style as the already existing one, the Villahermosa Palace.
 
The itinerary begins with 13th-century Western painting and goes all the way through to the most important movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.
 
Highlights of its artistic collection include works from the Impressionist, avant-garde and 60s Pop-Art movements. Hanging on its walls you'll find paintings by masters such as Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Klee and Kandinsky, among many others.

Avant-garde and state of the art – these may be the adjectives that best describe the Reina Sofía National Art Museum.
 
It highlights the most innovative artistic trends and sets the standard in contemporary art. It is also home to Pablo Picasso's world-famous "Guernica". Miró, Dalí, Tàpies, Juan Gris and Chillida, among others, are all represented in this museum's extensive collection.
 
In the architectural sphere, the facilities in its recent extension are the work of the famous Jean Nouvel.
 
All the beauty and history of art are yours to enjoy in just a short walk. It has never been easier: you will find it all in Madrid, Spain's capital..