Lesser-known museums

Madrid's interesting museums are not limited to the three of the golden triangle. Certainly we would suggest that a visitor who is short of time visit the big three first but if you can make time you'll find many treasures in the museums listed below, which in turn may offer refreshingly uncrowded and charming environments.

If you've heard of an exhibition or museum not listed here, make sure you check that it isn't listed under Public exhibitions and foundations; also, if you've a yearning to see the avant-garde or art you might purchase (even if you can't afford to buy), you should take a look at the pages on commercial art galleries.

Museums described in this guide include:

Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida
Palacio Real
Museo Arqueológico Nacional
Museo Erótico
Museo Municipal
Museo Sorolla
Museo de América
Museo Romántico
Museo de Escultura al aire libre
Museo Cerralbo
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
Real Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
Real Monasterio de la Encarnación
Museo Telefónica
Museo Erótico
Museo de la Ciudad
Museo Geominero
Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Royal Palace of Aranjuez
Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso

Times:

When you arrive you'll actually find two identical chapels; one is the original, which you will want to visit, and the other is a copy which was built so that services could be held at this location without damaging the works in the former. The original chapel contains some lovely Goya Frescos, so if you enjoyed the Goya exhibits in the Prado, then don't miss the opportunity to see these.

After visiting the chapel, you may want to take advantage of your locale to pass by Madrid's small river, the Manzanares, or visit the Parque del Oeste, which is almost as large as the Retiro, and much less crowded during the day (though not recommended at night). If you're hungry, there's another nearby landmark; the casa Mingo, famous for roast chicken and cider.

Times: Until April from mondays to saturdays: 9.30 - 17.30.
Holidays and Sundays: 9.00 - 14.00.
After April: from mondays to saturdays: 9.00 - 18.00. Holidays and Sundays: 9.00 - 15.00.
Closed: during officials acts.

Admision:
General: 6.91 euros (Guided visit)
Reduced: 5.11 euros (For groups arranged by travel agencies.)
Minimum: 3.01 euros (Identity document is required)
Free: Under 5 years, Arranged visits from educational establishments, Wednesday, for citizens of the European.

http://www.patrimonionacional.es

The royal palace is no longer used as a residence, but it has been kept intact since it last functioned as home to the king, primarily serving as a tourist attraction. The entire palace is not open to the public, but most of the more important rooms can be visited. The palace is interesting in its own right, in particular its architecture and gardens (there are two, the Jardines del Moro and the Sabattini gardens). There are also some excellent frescos inside the palace by Tiépolo, and paintings by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco, Juan de Flandes and Caravaggio, among others.

Through 43 rooms the man's history is contemplated from its origins until the Modern Age. Among their good known works it highlights the Lady of Elche, the Crowns of Guarrazar or the reproduction of the roof of the Caves of Altamira.

http://www.man.es/index.html
E-mail: doc@man.es

Times: Thu. to Fri. 9.30 - 20.00
Sat. and Sun. 10.00 - 14.00
Admision: 2 euro. Wed. and Sun. free.

To highlight the magnificent entrance of Pedro of Ribera of Baroque style (1.722). In the interior paintings of Goya, Sorolla, and Eugenio Lucas. Also a model to scale of the city in the year 1.833.

This small museum, located in Sorolla's Madrid residence (he was actually from Valencia), contains a mixture of post-impressionist and Spanish school art. The museum has been preserved in its original state and almost all of its rooms are open to the public. Apart from many paintings by Sorolla himself, there are works from representative artists of this time period (for example the sculptor Benlliure).
The building's gardens are a lovely addition to the museum, which will no doubt be of special interest to lovers of figurative art, bright colour, and the resplendent Mediterranean sun.

Through the variety of its exhibits, this little museum near the city centre provides a lovely representation of the ambience of the 19th century. You'll find examples of Spanish art, furnishings, decorative objects and documents from this time period. There's a room dedicated to the century's literary figures and artists, a 19th century dancing room etc. In the chapel you'll find a 'San Gregorio' by Goya. In addition to having a few important art pieces, this museum is a most pleasant way to learn something about this period of history. You can also take advantage of the museum's location in the city to see a little of the areas in its proximity: Malasaña, Chueca, and Alonso Martínez.

One of the most intriguing museums in the city, the Museo Cerralbo was originally the home of the seventeenth Marquis of Cerralbo, donated upon his death in 1922 with the intention that it be converted into a museum. Consisting of a collection of his former possessions, the exhibits include arms, watches, furnishings and paintings, among which can be found works of Verones, El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarate;n and Alonso Cano. An unusual, but interesting, collection.

Like the Cerralbo, this museum is the result of the donation of a private collection, in this case by businessman José Lázaro Galdiano (1862-1947). Some 15,000 paintings and art objects, collected over his lifetime, are on display in Galdiano's beautiful mansion. This private collection is now considered one of the finest and most extensive in Spain. There is an exceptionally good representation of decorative arts (gold, silver, arms, jewellery, ceramics etc.), and a broad collection of Spanish school paintings, which includes an entire room of Goya, and works by Murillo and Ribera. There are Flemish school paintings by Van Eyck, Mabuse and El Bosco. There is also a painting attributed to Leonardo and a few English school works by Constable, Gainsborough, Reynolds and others. It is well worth one's trouble to make the effort to visit this relatively little known museum, which has an excellent collection even if not all of its works are ideally exhibited.

Created in 1774, the Real Academia de San Fernando (Royal Academy of San Fernando) is the oldest art institute in Madrid, and possibly in Spain. Much of what is on exhibit here has come from donations from artists trying to be admitted into the Academy, or others who held grants to work there. In addition to paintings of the Spanish school (Juan de Herrera, Zurbarán, Goya, etc.), there are collections of drawings, architectural plans, and some interesting books (for example the second edition of the Latin 'treatise of human proportions' by Durero). There are also etchings which are now used to make prints for sale to the general public.

This museum provides an excellent complement to the Prado and Thyssen, showing through its lesser known pieces some of what might be considered a neglected aspect of Spanish culture.

Right in the centre of Madrid, this monastery holds a superb collection of paintings, among which can be found works by Tiziano, Sebastian del Piombo, Luini, Brueghel, Rubens, Van Cleve, Sanchez and Coello. Also on display are religious images and tapestries. The monastery was founded by Juana de Austria, sister of Philip II, and for this reason was the chosen place for many women of nobility who wanted to enter the order. With them came many of the treasures found here.

The conventual buildings preserve all the structure and many of the decorative features of the Plateresque palace, including the Main Staircase and the Royal Apartments where the Princess Juana, and later her sister the Dowager Empress María (who died here in 1603), lived in retirement. Seventeenth-century frescoes by Mantuano and Francisco de Rizi decorate the Main Staircase and the Chapel of the Miracle.

The museums opening hours are limited and somewhat irregular.
Mon - Sat: 9.30 -17.00, Sun, Hol: 9.00 - 14.00

See: http://www.patrimonionacional.es

Admission:
General: 4,81 euros
Reduced: 3,91 euros (groups)
Minimum: 2,40 euros (Identity document is required)
Free: under 5, UE citizens on weds.

Combined Monasteries Las Descalzas-Encarnacion
Gen: 6,01 euros - Red: 4,81 euros - Min: 3,31 euros