When you visit Museo del Prado Madrid, you're stepping into what feels like a private royal collection that somehow grew into one of the world's most important art museums. The building itself, designed by Juan de Villanueva in the late 18th century, was originally meant to house natural history specimens. Instead, it became home to centuries of Spanish royal taste in art.

The museum opened in 1819, and walking through its halls today still feels intimate despite hosting over three million visitors annually. The collection reflects the particular passions of Spanish monarchs rather than a systematic survey of art history. This gives it character. You'll find an unmatched concentration of Velázquez paintings, including Las Meninas, which commands its own room and deserves the attention it gets.

Goya dominates several galleries with works spanning his entire career, from royal portraits to the disturbing Black Paintings he created in his final years. The contrast between his earlier court scenes and later dark visions tells a story about Spain itself. El Greco's elongated figures occupy their own space, while Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights draws crowds who stand mesmerized by its bizarre details.

What surprises many visitors is the quality of Italian masters here. Velázquez, during his travels, had an eye for acquiring works by Titian and other Venetian painters. The Flemish collection, built through Spanish political connections with the Low Countries, includes exceptional Rubens pieces.

The museum expanded significantly in 2007 with additional gallery space, but it still feels manageable compared to some massive institutions. You can see the highlights in a focused morning visit, though the depth of the collection rewards longer exploration.

Discover all the secrets of Museo del Prado with our complete Madrid audio guide to understand the historical context behind these masterpieces and the stories of how they ended up in Spanish hands.

The location on Paseo del Prado places you in Madrid's cultural heart, with the Reina Sofía and Thyssen museums nearby. But honestly, the Prado alone contains enough artistic weight to justify a trip to the Spanish capital. The building's classical galleries provide the perfect setting for these works, many of which were painted for palace walls not so different from where they hang today.