Meant for science
Charles III commissioned the building for natural history. Plans changed, and his grandson Ferdinand VII, encouraged by Queen Maria Isabel of Braganza, opened it as a royal museum of painting and sculpture in 1819.
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The Prado: a science museum that became an art museum
Juan de Villanueva's building was designed in the 18th century as a natural history cabinet. It opened in 1819 as a museum for the Spanish royal collection, and today holds the world's greatest collections of Velázquez and Goya.
Opened1819
ArchitectJuan de Villanueva
Built fromthe royal collection
Must-seesLas Meninas, Goya, Bosch
Hear the Prado Museum story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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A king's taste
The collection wasn't bought to cover all of art history. It's what Spanish kings collected, which is why it's so rich in Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian and Rubens.
3
The Black Paintings
Goya painted the dark scenes known as the Black Paintings on the walls of his own house. They were later moved to canvas and are now in the Prado.
TipEntry is free in the last two hours of most days, so the queue starts early; arrive about 30 minutes before. Start with Las Meninas and the Goya rooms. With Urban Tales running, the museum's story plays as you reach the Velázquez statue outside.
Nearby landmarks
Prado Museum: common questions
When is the Prado free?
In the last two hours of opening on most days. Check the official site for current times.
What is the most famous painting in the Prado?
Velázquez's Las Meninas, along with Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights.
When did the Prado open?
In 1819, as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. It became national property after the revolution of 1868.