Queen Sofía Arts Center

This art museum is called the Queen Sofia Museum, but its official name is the National Museum Queen Sofia Arts Center (Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS)). Its main goal is to showcase and discuss the avant-garde art of 20th-century Spanish masters. It is one of the three most visited museums in Madrid. Along with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Prado, it forms the «Golden Triangle of Art.»

Museum Opening

In 1986, it was a contemporary art exhibition center specializing in sculpture. It was housed in the building of a former hospital, which was rebuilt multiple times, with its construction finally completed in the 18th century. The project for the modern building began with architect Jose de Hermosilla, and Francesco Sabatini completed the project. On May 27, 1988, according to a royal decree, the contemporary art exhibition center was granted the status of a National Museum. On September 10, 1992, the National Museum Queen Sofia Arts Center was officially opened by the royal couple.

In 2005, three bright red buildings were added to the old building under a large red aluminum and zinc canopy. The structures are arranged in a triangle and form an atrium with wide stone galleries. Outside, three glass elevators were built, attracting attention with their unusual appearance.

Today, the Queen Sofia Arts Center is an art museum with a permanent collection, rooms for temporary exhibitions, and a research department. It includes a pinacotheca and a library with 40,000 volumes, as well as auditoriums for students, a luxurious concert hall, and the NuBel restaurant.

The museum has a central computer that monitors humidity, temperature, lighting, and security.

Exhibition

The museum offers an intriguing journey through the history of modern Spanish art in three directions:

• The Invasion of the 20th Century: Utopias and Conflicts (1900-1945),
• The War Is Over? Art in a Divided World (1945-1968),
• From Rebellion to Postmodernism (1962-1982).

The museum’s main exhibit is the legendary «Guernica,» a masterpiece by Pablo Picasso depicting the pain of the bombing victims of the town of Guernica on April 27, 1937.

The Queen Sofia Arts Center presents the main collection of modern Madrid art, covering primarily the period from the early 20th century to the 1980s. To see more recent works by Spanish artists, one should visit the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo).

After viewing «Guernica,» it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the artist’s sketches. If you enjoy the cubism style in which Picasso worked, you will also be attracted to the works of Madrid artists such as Juan Gris (1887-1927) and Georges Braque (1882-1963).

The stunning, vibrant colors of the paintings draw attention to the works of Joan Miró (1893-1983). These paintings became symbolic of the Olympic Games held in Barcelona in 1992. Some of his sculptures, notable for their unusual appearance like his paintings, are also presented here.

The museum features about two dozen paintings by the famous Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, including his well-known surrealist spectacle – «The Great Masturbator» (1929).In the museum halls, you can explore the works of renowned 20th-century Spanish artists such as Miquel Barceló; José Gutiérrez Solana, a native of Madrid; Ignacio Zuloaga, a famous Basque painter. The museum features paintings by Benjamín Palencia, associated with the Spanish movement of the 1930s; Barcelona artist Antoni Tàpies. You can also discover the pop art of Eduardo Arroyo and representatives of the abstract painting movement, Eusebio Sempere, and members of the «Equipo 57» group, founded in 1957 by Spanish artists exiled in Paris, as well as Pablo Palazuelo. The famous poet and playwright Federico García Lorca also painted: the museum displays several of his sketches.

Pay special attention to the works of sculptor Pablo Gargallo, creator of a bronze bust of Pablo Picasso. At the Queen Sofia Arts Center, you will also see works by famous Basque sculptors Eduardo Chillida and Jorge Oteiza.

Opening Hours

MON: 10:00 AM — 9:00 PM;
TUE: closed;
WED-SAT: 10:00 AM — 9:00 PM;
SUN: 10:00 AM — 7:00 PM.

Ticket Prices

Main exhibition — at the counter €10.00; online ticket €8.90;
temporary exhibitions — €4.00; online ticket €3.90.

If the queue at the main entrance is too long, try an alternative entrance in one of the new buildings on Ronda de Atocha. You can buy tickets in advance on the website and save a lot of time.

The museum offers free visiting hours. Check them on the website. Usually, they are MON, WED-SAT from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Sundays from 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Admission is free for all visitors on April 18, May 17 and 18, October 12, and December 6.

How to Get There

Take the metro to Atocha station (L1) or Lavapiés (L3).
You can get there by bus E1, 14, 59, 85, stop at Plaza Emperador Carlos V.
The museum is close to the Madrid-Atocha train station, so you can arrive here by commuter train.