Visiting the Reina Sofia Museum
A dedicated enclave for masterpieces, the Paseo del Arte serves as the epicenter of culture in Madrid. Along with the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Reina Sofia Museum is one of the exceptional buildings that make up this famous district, often called the Golden Triangle of Art. The neoclassical structure maintains rigid lines, dating back to its origins as a central hospital in the 16th century. Expanded under Charles III, notably by the renowned architect Francisco Sabatini, it has undergone several modifications. Designated a historic monument in 1977, it opened as a museum in 1992, and another architectural genius, Jean Nouvel, was later commissioned to design the annex building.
The home of Guernica
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Reina Sofia National Museum Art Center) is one of the largest in Spain. Its permanent collection is equally vast, focusing on modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day, featuring some of the most illustrious artists in history. Joan Miro, Ferdinand Leger, Juan Gris, Francis Bacon, Man Ray, Kandinsky, Magritte, and many others are represented among the 21,000 works, including a significant number of sculptures. Within this collection, legendary canvases stand out, such as Fille a la fenetre (Girl at the Window) and Le Grand Masturbateur (The Great Masturbator) by Salvador Dali, or the powerful Guernica by Pablo Picasso. The latter alone justifies a visit for many. The exhibition is divided into three main periods with the Second World War at its center. While the Sabatini wing is dizzying in scale, the Nouvel extension, with its striking red and black design, includes space for temporary exhibitions. A final building rounds out the cultural offerings of the Reina Sofia Museum, located in the heart of the beautiful Parc Retiro. This is the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), an incredible glass and iron structure standing 22 meters tall. In this greenhouse of incredible beauty, art thrives through exhibitions scheduled every 3 months.
Opening hours
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People had told me about this museum and Picasso's Guernica. It is impossible not to be impressed by that work, even if I do not appreciate all of the artist's paintings. The museum also houses plenty of other paintings worth seeing, especially some by Miro and Dali. It is also a great way to discover a few other Spanish painters.
I went through the visit right after the Prado Museum and I do not recommend seeing both in the same day. My feet and eyes were way too tired to fully enjoy everything by the end of the day.