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Prado is one of the most famous and most visited museums in the world thanks to its impressive collection of great painters such as Francisco de Goya, Diego Velázquez, El Greco, Titian, Rubens, Bosch, Raphael, Rembrandt, Poussin, Murillo , Ribera, Van Dyck, Jordaens and others.
The Prado Museum was built to house the Natural History Cabinet, by order of King Carlos III. However, the ultimate purpose of the building - such as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures - was the decision of the monarch's grandson, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife, Queen María Isabel de Braganza.
The first name given to the museum was the Royal Museum, with the passage of time it got the name of National Museum of Painting and Sculpture (Museo Nacional de Pintura y Escultura ) and subsequently renamed Prado Museum. The museum first opened to the public in 1819 with a first catalog that included 311 paintings and 1510 works from the Royal Sites.
More than 7,600 paintings have been incorporated in the Prado Museum since its opening, the total collection now includes about 1,000 sculptures, prints and drawings from 4800-8200. The most notable work in the museum is Las Meninas by Velázquez.
The Museum will be one of the Top to visit during your stay in Madrid, it is impossible to miss all its rich history, the world's most complete collection of Spanish painting, it’s incredible collection of Italian paintings (essential to understand the step that was from the medieval to Renaissance art) and many other works that will leave you spellbound.
To optimizing your time during your visit to the museum here is the list of the top five works: Las Meninas by Velasquez, Saturn devouring a child by Goya, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, The Nude Maja by Goya and The Knight with the hand on the chest by El Greco.
Along with the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia, Prado Museum is the Triangle of Art, the Mecca of many tourists from around the world.
Images Credit:
Museo del Prado por ReservasdeCoches.com Flickr Gallery
Prado Museum por PromoMadrid Flickr Gallery
Inside Museo del Prado por Jorge Lascar Flickr Gallery
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