Queen Sofía National Art Centre

Queen Sofía National Art Centre

Introduction If you want to see masterpieces by Picasso, Dalí, and Miró, the Queen Sofía National Art Centre is a must-visit. With an exhibition space of 12,505 square meters, this museum is one of the largest in the world. Its collection focuses on the context and development of Spain’s own artistic style within the trends of European art movements, essentially covering a series of transformations in Spanish modern art styles from the late 19th century to the 20th century, including Surrealism, Abstractism, and the avant-garde movements after World War II.

The art centre building was originally a hospital, but after several expansions, its function has changed multiple times. The overall style is Neoclassical, but the elevator in the middle of the building features a avant-garde design that is very eye-catching. Two exhibition halls are located on the second and fourth floors, respectively displaying works divided by the year 1939.

Famous artworks:

Picasso’s Guernica. Guernica is a place name in the Basque Country that suffered devastating bombing during the war. The Spanish government commissioned Picasso to create a work on this subject with a substantial sum. On a canvas measuring 3.5 meters in height and 7.82 meters in length, Picasso used dark shades of black, white, and gray to depict the intense suffering and outcry of the city. Due to the Franco government's reluctance to have the painting returned to Spain, it remained at the Museum of Modern Art in New York after its creation. It entered the Prado Museum in 1981, then was transferred to the Queen Sofía National Art Centre in 1993. Transport Address: Calle Santa Isabel, 52 Metro: Atocha Station, Line 1. Tickets / Opening Hours Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00–21:00, Sunday 10:00–14:30. Closed on January 6, May 1, September 9, November 9, December 24–25, December 31, and every Tuesday.

Tickets: €3, half-price with a youth card, student card, or other relevant international credentials. Free for those under 18 and over 65.

Free entry: Saturdays 14:30–21:00, Sundays 10:00–14:30, May 18, October 12, and December 6.

Art Tour Pass: €12, valid for one year, allows entry to the Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and Queen Sofía National Art Centre Museum.

Queen Sofía National Art Centre Museum Annual Pass: €24.04, grants unlimited entry for one year.

Museum Annual Pass: €36.06, allows unlimited entry for one year to the Queen Sofía National Art Centre Museum, Prado Museum, and other national museums under the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

Spanish Madrid