Museums in Retiro & Paseo del Prado (Madrid)

Galería Alfama

This gallery specializes in showing works of fantastic realism as well as imaginative representational art in a variety of different formats, such as drawings, water colors, gouache and collage. It's the only gallery in Madrid to hold an annual exhibition dedicated exclusively to drawing, normally held in February. It also organizes two or three open group exhibitions per year that exhibit works ranging from the 19th Century up to the latest trends.

Galería Durán

A gallery that strives to feature all facets of realism in representational art, both in painting and sculpture. It's the only one of its kind in the country to organize a competition and award a national biennial prize in painting that's open to professionals and amateurs resident in Spain. Exhibiting artists include Eustaqui Segrelles, Faustino Manchado, Adolfo Estrada, Santos Hu, Iglesias Sanz and Paz Figares (sculpture).

Galería de Arte Metta

A light, spacious and elegant gallery that specializes in showing the latest innovations in the contemporary avant-garde art movement. All forms of expression have a place, including the abstract, surrealism and figurative pop art in forms as diverse as painting, sculpture, photography and installations. You can see work by a range of established artists like Andreu Alfaro, Eduardo Arroyo, Luis Canelo, Juan Giralt, Nacho Criado, Dennis Hopper, Jules Olitski, Edward Ruscha and others. It participates in international art fairs in Chicago and Miami as well as ARCO and FIAC.

Galería Brita Prinz

An exhibition space that deals exclusively in graphic art, with an enviable location in one of Madrid's most elegant and upmarket districts. You'll see work by established masters of the form alongside up-and-coming youngsters. Artists on display include Resti, Erich Heckel, Louis Markus Marcoussis, Eloisa Gil, Jos, I. Rincón, Soledad Barbadillo, Jesús Núñez, Marc Chagall and Georges Braque.

Galería de Arte Ángel Romero

One of only two Madrid galleries that concentrates on talented contemporary Cuban artists, you're likely to see work by the likes of José Bedia, Elena Blasco, Carlos Capelán, Ciuco Gutiérrez, Santiago R. del Hoyo, Chema Madoz, Armando Mariño, Isaac Montoya, Carlos Quintana and Bernardí Roig on display here. The gallery opened in 1985 and you'll find it close to the Prado Museum.

Museo Nacional del Prado

Considered one of the world's most important art galleries, it exhibits paintings by Goya, Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Ribera, Titian, Boticelli, Tintoretto, El Bosco, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin and Durer. Carlos III commissioned Juan de Villanueva to design this beautiful building, which was converted into an art gallery in 1819. In July of 2005, the Council of Ministers approved a EUR44.6 million expansion plan which increases the museum's total space by 50 percent, and allows for 500 more works of the permanent collection to be showcased. On October 30, 2007, the annex opened with a collection of 19th-century Spanish artwork which enabled the Prado to reclaim its glory as a crown jewel of Europe. Come for the art; stay for the architecture.

Planetario de Madrid

Lie back on one of the reclining chairs located under the huge dome and enjoy spectacular documentaries and visual displays accompanied by the best surround sound system available. You will learn all about the fascinating world of astronomy and see images of the stars and planets as they circulate in their natural orbits. There is a range of exhibitions and video shows to visit, along with interactive educational computer facilities and a souvenir shop. Once a year around August the planetarium hosts a stargazing event titled Jornada de observación con telescopios (telescope observation day). The planetarium is close to the IMAX 3D cinema and has free parking. Admission to video screenings, exhibitions and computer facilities is free.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

The Thyssen-Bornemisza family collected what became one of the world's finest private art collections over a number of generations. The Spanish state bought it from them in 1993 for USD 350 million and converted the early-19th-century neoclassical Villahermosa Palace into a fabulous art gallery. You will see masterpieces by Van Dyck, Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Kandinsky among others. The collection follows a chronological order running from the 13th to the 20th Century. There is a cafeteria-restaurant, free cloakroom and a conference room. Admission: EUR6; students, senior citizens: EUR4; under-12s: free. Temporary Exhibitions: EUR5; students, senior citizens: EUR4. Combined Admission: EUR9; students, senior citizens: EUR5. Group bookings: taquilla@museothyssen.org, or call +34 91 369 0151.

Galería 57

Abstract painting, sculpture and photography are its trademark. However, you'll also see some exhibitions of minimalist and conceptual art. The gallery promotes the work of young contemporary artists from Spain and abroad including Juan Sotomayor, Luis Cruz Hernández, Pedro Castrortega, Óscar Seco, Yurihito Otsuki, Alfonso Sicilia Sobrino, Maurizio Lanzillotta, Pilar Lara, Nikola Dimitrov and Lotje de Lussannet.

Casón del Buen Retiro

This building was once the Buen Retiro Palace's ballroom. The palace no longer exists and the ballroom now belongs to the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum). It houses a collection of 19th-century paintings by artists such as Madrazo, Fortuny, Rosales, Picasso, and Sorolla. The attractive 18th-century dome was painted by Lucas Jordán.

Museo del Ferrocarril

This is one of the most popular museums in the city, frequented as much by locals as tourists. The lovely building itself was opened as a railway station in 1880. It's interesting to see - through the steam, diesel and electric engines - how elegant and efficient train travel used to be. Most of the rolling-stock is so valuable that it has been declared of national cultural interest and is protected from destruction by statute. Other interesting items include old clocks, passenger cars, etchings, lamps, tools and much more. Look out for the working scale models, temporary exhibitions and children's activities.

Museo de Artes Decorativas

This small 19th-century palace houses an interesting collection of household objects and decorative arts which reflect the history of everyday life in Spain from the 15th-19th Centuries. Over 15,000 pieces of porcelain, glass, furniture, ivory, ceramics, paintings and sculptures fill the exhibition space. The collection of glass objects shows how things have changed over time. There are examples of textiles dating from the 2nd Century to the present day. Fans, wallets, carpets, toys, furniture and tobacco pouches complete the range of fascinating objects on display.