A Spanish history fact we cannot dispute: some of Spain’s best artwork is located outside of the famous Spanish museums and galleries. Just visit the Santo Tome church in Toledo and you’ll find El Greco’s renowned painting, “The Burial of Count Orgaz”.
But other iconic pieces by Picasso, Dali, and Velazquez? You can only gaze at them from the safe confines of Spanish museums. We always recommend that art lovers and casual admirers view a sampling of a country’s artwork in as many contexts as possible. You’ll no doubt be wowed at the sculptures on display in city squares, just as you’ll stare in awe at the priceless works that can only be found in Spanish museums.
During your next visit to Spain, we recommend each of these Spanish Museums find a place on your itinerary.
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Museo Nacional del Prado | Madrid
The Prado Museum, as it’s more commonly known, rarely needs an introduction. Travelers from all corners of the world come to Madrid to see iconic works like “Las Meninas” by Diego Velazquez, “The Third of May 1808” by Francisco Goya, and “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch. Rembrandt, El Greco, Raphael, and Peter Paul Rubens are also showcased, making Prado an unmissable stop.
Museo del Greco | Toledo
Photo credit: @museo_del_greco on Instagram
Over a century old, the El Greco Museum celebrates one of the famous artists of the Spanish Golden Age. A 16th-century home houses an extensive collection of El Greco’s work, particularly his later works. You can also find art from other 17th-century painters at this museum in Toledo’s Jewish Quarter. Sadly, most of El Greco’s finest works are not on display here, though his “The Tears of Saint Peter” and the rest of El Greco’s Apostolate series make it well-worth the visit.
Museu Frederic Marès | Barcelona
Paintings are splendid, but for those who prefer the intricate, unbelievable detail that only sculptures can showcase, the Museum Frederic Marès in Barcelona is one of the best Spanish museums dedicated entirely to sculptures. The uniqueness of this museum is that the beloved local sculptor’s work sits side-by-side pre-Roman and Spanish medieval works. He amassed this collection over the course of his lifetime, and in doing so, created a one-of-a-kind shrine to the history of sculpting unlike any other.
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Picasso Museum | Malaga
Of the many iconic Spanish museums, the Picasso Museum in the painter’s hometown of Malaga is one of the best. Priceless paintings adorn this Spanish museum, including “Bust of a Woman with Arms Crossed behind Her Head”, “Portrait of a Bearded Man”, and “Still Life with Minotaur and Palette”. It goes without saying that the Picasso Museum in Malaga is often considered Malaga’s most important Spanish museum.
Guggenheim Museum | Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is an extraordinary sight, even before you step inside. The giant spider sculpture, “Maman” by Louise Bourgeois, hints at the larger-than-life quality of the artwork inside. Some of the masterpieces in this extensive collection include Mark Rothko’s “Untitled”, Willem de Kooning’s “Villa Borghese”, and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Man from Naples”.
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Museum of Fine Arts | Seville
Photo creditL: @museobellasartessevilla on Instagram
The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville was created by Royal Decree in the 1800s and it still remains a regal site for viewing masterful works of art. Stroll through the exhibition halls to view examples of Seville’s renowned Baroque artists, including the “The Crucifixion of the Scuola di San Rocco” by Juan de Roelas and Francisco de Zurbaran’s “Fuente de Cantos”.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía | Madrid
Photo credit: @museoreinasofia on Instagram
Madrid has so many wonderful Spanish museums that you can plan an entire vacation admiring the works throughout the city, including in the famous Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. From “La Guernica” by Pablo Picasso to “Lola” by Antonio Saura, the Reina Sofia museum is one of the very best in Spain.
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Though Spanish museums are among the best in the world, there is far more art to appreciate outside of these galleries. We invite you to join the Luxury Gold Spain & Portugal in Style tour to see for yourself.
This 13-day tour is primarily set in Spain and includes visits to Seville’s Fine Arts Museum and Madrid’s Prado Museum. Journey through Córdoba, Granada, and other Spanish cities, discovering paintings, sculptures, and exceptional artistry throughout.
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