Since its
grand opening to the public in 1819, the Prado museum has been celebrated for
its fantastic collection of Spanish art. Over the years the royal collection
has expanded greatly to include many other pieces from artist all around the
world. However, it still remains as the best museum for Spanish art with the
works of Goya, Velazqeuz and El Greco, to name but a few, on display.
I must admit
that I am an art person, and so, I was always looking forward to visiting this
world famous museum. That said, I will tell straight off, that it was not my
favourite – as someone who is more interested in more modern art, I personally
preferred the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia. For me, it was still
pretty good though.
The majority
of the artwork at the Prado tends to be very traditional with a lot of religious
imagery. For some people (who are not into that style of art), you might even
find that you keep seeing the same painting, when in actual fact they are
different but share a lot of similarities. It does not help that due to the layout
of the museum, you might find yourself wandering into a gallery that you have
already visited. Then again, this is easily resolved: simply make sure you take
a map from the front desk to avoid repeating yourself!
The museum if
very large but this can also be a great advantage. Because of the spacious
rooms and the high ceilings, you can look at the very big canvasses without
being overly close. You can observe them from a distance, and take the entire
thing in.
In my
opinion, each gallery is very interesting, especially as they all have a
particular theme. Each painting or sculpture is interesting to observe and you
gain a lot from the tour guide (in the form of a headset) which explains
certain symbols and the history of some pieces. I am also interested in history
and so, in some cases, the history of the painting was more interesting than
the art itself. On this note, you can get a headset, available in several
languages from the front desk – there is even a headset specifically for
children, where the language and explanations are put in simpler terms. I would
recommend it as it can be a great aid.
My favourite
piece is The Garden of Earthly Delight by Hieronymus Bosch which is, and has
been, subject to many interpretations. Judging from what I have heard and read,
I believe that it is a painting with the intent to warn people about the
temptations in life. Moreover, it demonstrates the potential consequences to
giving into such temptations – remember that this was painted in an era when
Christianity has great influence.
As I said, a
lot of the artwork involves Christianity in some way but noticing the different
symbols, or in which light the faith is presented is what marks the difference.
If you are
passionate about art, I reckon you spend a full day in this museum. Otherwise,
I would put 1-3 hours aside you wander around the galleries. I would recommend
a visit to the Prado to anyone – even if you are disinterested in art. The
Prado is a must-do whilst you are in Madrid. But, perhaps in this case, you
might want to spend as little money as possible.
A standard
ticket is 14 euros and a reduced ticket is 7 (although I am not sure what gives
you this discount). However, if you are student between the ages of 18-25, you
can get in free. You do have to show your student card, but I had no problems
using my uni card from the UK. Furthermore, the museum is free for all should
you visit during the last 2 hours before closing on any day. This might work
nicely for anyone who wants to go, simply in order to say that they have been.
Although, do
bear in mind that it gets very busy on the weekends. Likewise, it is also quite
crowded during the holidays so might want to prepare for a queue. You can
always buy tickets online in advance to skip the queues, but if you would like
a keepsake (like I do) and get a pretty ticket, head to the front desk.
It is easy
enough to get to. Walking from the city centre is a perfectly reasonable idea
(maybe 20 minutes from Puerta Del Sol) and in doing so you get to enjoy the
wonders of the city. But if you are further out, the closest metro stations are
Atocha and Banco de Espana.
You’ll know
it when you see it: not only is it well sign-posted, there are normally some
very big crowds (just follow them). And the architecture is just amazing! I
would say just look for the stunning building but there are too many of these
in Madrid to count.
Another thing
to note is that if you have a particularly big bag, you must check it in to the
cloakroom. This is not really a problem but once you have just entered the
museum having waited in line for some time, it is kind of frustrating when you
discover that you have to wait in line to check in a bag. They give you a card
and when you hand it back you can retrieve your things. It is actually much
nicer walking around with little baggage so I would suggest do this even if you
do not have huge bag.
Finally, as
every good museum should have, the café in the Prado is excellent. It has a
very pleasant atmosphere and offers a variety of food and beverages – although
these are at museum prices. It is a nice area though to sit for a little,
either before or after your tour. I would suggest maybe have a cup of tea (like
a true Englishman) beforehand, so you can use the time to plan where you’d like
to go.
But, still
it’s up to you. Hope this have been useful, if you have visited the Prado/going
to the Prado, let me know what you think of it.
Hasta luego.
