When it comes to the sights of Madrid, any person first mentions the Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado). That is one of the most extensive art galleries in the world, the catalogue of which takes up three hefty volumes.
And even if you undertake to list the names of only the most famous masters of painting, the list will be very impressive. Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Velasquez, El Greco, Bosch, Brueghel Sr., Goya — here, the hearts of not only art lovers will flutter.
If you get the chance to visit Madrid's leading museum and see the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, make the most of it. And the tour with your child is supported by free admission to the museum and a special game card dedicated to famous paintings.
The Art Museum of Madrid has rich collections of Spanish, Italian, Flemish, French, German and English paintings, antique and medieval sculpture, a collection of prints and drawings, and decorative arts.
It's easy to find your way around the endless halls with the museum's map (available in several languages). You can get one free of charge in the information halls. Use the audioguide to get information about the art objects. For children, you can take the 'Masterpieces' audioguide, which focuses on 50 critical works, or the special children's audioguide, which tells you about 21 paintings (available in English). You will not only hear a short story about the artist, but you will also learn about the symbolism of the work and the techniques the artist used to embody the idea.
The Prado Museum in Madrid offers various itineraries for those with limited time. The one-hour itinerary covers 15 works, including Fra Angelico's The Annunciation, Velázquez's The Meninas, and Goya's 3 May 1808 in Madrid. The 2-hour itinerary includes Dürer's Self-Portrait, Rubens' The Three Graces and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. But you can make up your itinerary, depending on your preferences.
If you come to the Prado with school children, you can focus on the museum's collection. For pre-schoolers, it might be better to admire only the museum building — from afar, on a stroll through Retiro Park. For those of you with younger children, there's a free pram available to take them on a guided tour of the museum. There are also nappy-changing and baby-feeding areas in the museum.
To ensure your child remembers the Prado, the paintings and sculptures you've seen here, buy a set of postcards or posters of famous paintings in the gift shop.
