Visit on a Sunday afternoon for free entry!
Dedicated to the Queen of Spain, the Reina Sofía sits at the southern end of Madrid's so-called Golden Triangle of Art, which also comprises the Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Its vast and impeccably curated collection of 21,000 artworks is dedicated to the art of the 20th century, with a strong focus on Spanish artists including excellent groups of work by Dalí and Picasso, the country's two greatest modern masters (there's a substantial helping of Miró as well).
Since 1992 the museum has been home to Guernica, perhaps Picasso's most acclaimed masterpiece, which beforehand held a residence at the Prado's Casón del Buen Retiro; a controversial move, as the artist's will stated that he wanted the work to be displayed at the Prado. This moving work is a powerful protest against the horrors of war, prompted by the brutal Nationalist firebombing of the village of Guernica in 1937.
The museum's central building is the old General Hospital of Madrid, which was closed down in 1969. Extensive renovations have since greatly expanded the building, with three striking glass circulation towers added in 1989 before the museum was inaugurated officially in 1992; a recent €92 million expansion was completed in 2005.
While there are few non-Spaniards represented, the museum nonetheless holds a range of important works by Man Ray, Donald Judd, Robert Delaunay, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon and more. Excellent temporary exhibitions are held amidst the permanent exhibits, and also in the museum's outpost the Palacio de Cristal.
Marvel at world-class art in two of the finest museums of Spain: the Prado, and Reina Sofia. In this comprehensive, four-hour tour, you will feel immersed in the lives of some of the most influential European artists of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern Art movements.
On your private tour, you will:
You will begin your artist tour at the Spanish national art museum: the Prado Museum. Founded in 1819, it is well worth a visit just for its stunning neoclassical architecture, let alone its impressive collection of some 8,000 paintings and many beautiful sculptures, drawings and prints. Here, your expert guide will endeavour to shed some light on the major art movements you will see in the museum, including the Renaissance and Baroque.
You will also learn about the social and cultural background of some of the most iconic paintings housed in the museum, such as the Spanish masterpiece Las Meninas by Velazquez; Artwork by Fran Angelico, the gifted creator of The Annunciation; Christ Washing the Disciple’s feet by Tintoretto, and masterpieces by the Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch.
After a coffee break, you will move on to the Reina Sofia Museum, hosting some of the greatest Spanish artists of all time. Here your guide will walk you through artwork such as Picasso’s Guernica, a sensational political stand on the Spanish Civil War; a fantastic collection from Dalí, as well as a section fully dedicated to Joan Miró.
Since this is a private tour, you will be able to ask your expert guide to focus on subjects that interest you. If you are a Baroque enthusiast or want a broader taste of European art, this tour will give you a great introduction to the subject.
Your newfound knowledge may even impress your friends and family back home!
Explore the Reina Sofia Museum, one of the most important museums of Modern and Contemporary art founded in 1990 with one of the finest collections of 20th-century art in Europe. Together with the Prado Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum forms Madrid’s prestigious Golden Triangle of Art.
On your private tour, you will:
When the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía opened its doors in 1990, it won international acclaim for its modernity and scale. Today the museum’s expanded space includes an extra structure, handsome paved plazas, and additional cultural space. The imposing permanent collection of 20th-century art is enhanced by ever-changing temporary exhibitions, ensuring it ranks amongst the world’s most impressive modern art museums.
Explore the works of Spanish contemporary artists Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Pablo Serrano, José Gutierrez Solana, Juan Gris, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Other stands out artists who are not from Spain include Wassily Kandinsky, Diego Rivera, Max Ernst and Damien Hirst.
Whilst moving through the galleries - a crossroads in objects and time - explore the museum’s style of displaying its pieces, which positions masterpiece paintings side by side with photography, film, sound, design and dance without hierarchy. Learn why certain styles and movements proliferated at different points in the 20th century and examine the impact of the socio-political climate on the lives of the artists and their art. When you reach Guernica - one of Picasso's finest works - explore why the artist would have preferred it is on display at the Prado.
Enjoy a rich and immersive experience that brings the artwork to life with your specialist private guide. You’ll gain expert insight into the history of a vast collection of artefacts and a collection that boasts over 4000 paintings.
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