Madrid has some of the nicest collections of art paintings of the world open to the public. Three
of the world most important museums are within walking distance:
Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofia Museum. W eather in Madrid usually invites to go walking,

so you can easily combine the pleasures of walking and visiting museums on a single
day. Madrid is a city very friendly to visitors.

Prado Museum, in Spanish, 'Museo del Prado', hosts the best

collection of paintings from Velazquez and Goya, is Spain's main art museum. Don't miss
HREF="http://museoprado.mcu.es/38.html">'El Jardín de las Delicias' from El Bosco, a triptic miniature

from the Flemish School

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum hosts the Thyssen

collections, with almost 1000 paintings from the the thirteenth century to the twentieth century, complements

Prado and CARS, with more international focus.

Reina Sofia Museum, in Spanish, Centro de Arte

Reina Sofia, aka CARS, includes the famous Pablo Picasso's Guernica, symbol of Spanish Civil War, also works from

Joan Miro and Salvador Dali, and in general, modern paintings.

Some excellents hotels close to these museums: Palace Hotel and Ritz Hotel. Just cross the street and you are

at Prado Museum! From Prado museum, walk 5 minutes to the South, cross the street and you are at Thyssen's

museum. Again, walk 5 minutes to the South, and you are almost at CARS.

Once you are in Madrid, you will probably enjoy going to the surroundings, typical places are Segovia, with a

Roman aqueduct; Avila, with Middle Age city walls; Toledo, the 3 cultures – Jewish, Muslim and Christian

– city, with a great cathedral and tortuos old city; Aranjuez, famous for its gardens; El Escorial, site of

Philippe II court. All these places are about 1 hour or less from Madrid, by car or train.

Copyright 2006 - Ignacio Garcia del Valle - GVmaps.com