Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid

Madrid is home to the iconic Golden Triangle of Art Madrid, which includes the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Art Center, and the Thyssen Museum.

These are the best art museums in the country, and they are a must-visit for all art lovers and travelers.

From the works of Velázquez, Picasso, and Bosch, you can find artwork from every renowned Spanish artist here.

This guide will inform you about the Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid and share some interesting facts.

What is the Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid?

Three famous and world-class art museums in Spain make up the Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid.

This includes the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum), the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Reina Sofia National Art Centre), and the Thyssen Museum.

You will find the best Spanish and European art collections in each of these fantastic museums.

Whether you visit one or all three museums, you will be immersed in the rich artworks from different centuries.

With this 35-euro Paseo del Arte Card, you can visit all three museums easily at reasonable prices.

This pass will give you skip-the-line access to all three attractions, saving you 2 to 3 hours of total waiting time.

Map of the Golden Triangle of Art Madrid

All three museums are located on the Paseo del Prado, the city’s main boulevard and the oldest historical street in Madrid.

It is easy to walk through the street, with 20 minutes of walking time between all major landmarks.

You can even cover the distance between the Golden Triangle Museums via public transport. 

Museo del Prado to Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

The cheapest way to get from the Prado to the Thyssen-Bornemisza is by taking the Line 34 bus, which takes 4 minutes and costs 3 to 10 euros.

A direct bus departs from Museo Del Prado – Jardin Botánico and arrives at Neptuno. The journey takes approximately 1 minute.

Another good way to get from the Museo del Prado to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza is by taxi, which costs 7 to 9 euros and takes 1 minute.

Reina Sofia to Prado Museum

The journey time between the Reina Sofia Museum and the Museo del Prado is around 7 minutes, and the distance is approximately 1 km.

There are four ways to get from the Reina Sofia Museum to the Museo del Prado: by bus, taxi, or on foot.

The cheapest way is to take the Line 34 bus, which costs 3 to 10 euros and takes about 7 minutes.

A direct bus departs from Reina Sofia and arrives at Museo Del Prado -Jardin Botánico. The journey takes approximately 4 minutes.

The other ways are:

• By taxi, which costs 7 to 9 euros and takes 5 minutes.
• On foot, which takes around 12 minutes.

Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art includes:

Here’s a brief overview of all three museums.

Prado Museum

Popularly known as Museo del Prado, this museum is one of the world’s oldest and largest.

Opened on November 19, 1819, it houses collections of over 27,000 paintings borrowed from the Spanish Monarchy.

Visitors can also explore European art masterpieces, especially from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

You will find artwork from renowned artists like El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Goya, Velázquez, and Hieronymus Bosch.

Some highlights you cannot miss are Las Meninas” by Velázquez and “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch.

Must see: pieces from the 17th-century noblewoman and miniaturist Marcela da Valencia.

Reina Sofia National Art Centre

Opened on September 10, 1992, and named after Queen Sofia, it is Spain’s national museum for 20th-century art.

It is interesting to note that the Reina Sofia Art Center was once the General Hospital of Madrid.

This is the place for visitors searching for contemporary 20th-century pieces like Guernica” by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. 

Most artwork found here is by masters such as Salvador Dali, Juan Gris, and Joan Miró.

You will also find works from international artists like Diego Rivera, Max Ernst, and Francis Bacon. 

Be prepared to be immersed in surrealism, expressionism, and cubism by the artworks at Reina Sofia.

Also, during your visit, stop by the free-access art library, which contains 100,000 books, 3,500 recordings, and 1000 videos.

Must See: Guernica by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.

Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum

The Thyssen Bornemisza National Museum was a private collection by Heinrich, Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon.

However, later, it was taken over by Henrich’s son, who was ultimately responsible for its vast expansion.

The museum offers masterpieces from 13th-century Italian artists, ranging from Renaissance to playful pop art pieces.

You can see pieces from celebrated artists like Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Rembrandt, and Hopper here.

The Thyssen National Museum is in the former Villahermosa Palace, designed by architect Rafael Moneo.

Rafael transformed its infrastructure with marble floors, stucco, and galleries decorated with natural light.

Must see: Caravaggio’s Saint Catherine of Alexandria 

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