Best of the best The Museo del Prado is at the centre of Madrid, and features one of the world's finest collections of European art. Expanded from the former Spanish Royal collection, it now comprises around 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and 8,200 drawings, as well as many other works of art and historic documents. Around 1,300 artworks are on display in the main buildings: the crowning glory of the collection is Las Meninas by Velázquez, one of the most acclaimed masterpieces in all art history.  'Prado' comes from the meadow which gave its name to the area, and later to the museum after nationalisation: the grand main building opened in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. Today, other parts of the collection are also held in the Casón del Buen Retiro and the church of San Jerónimo el Real. Old Masters and more The artistic heritage of Spain is best represented, but there's no shortage of brilliant stuff by Italian and Dutch artists either: highlights include some of the greatest works by Fra Angelico, Goya, Rubens, Titian, Dürer, Raphael, Hieronymus Bosch and Tintoretto. There's so much to see here that it can feel overwhelming. Luckily, the museum has devised three suggested routes - covering 15, 30 and 50 works in one hour, two hours, or three hours respectively - which cover the key works, and are a great option if you're short of time. Otherwise, take a whole day to drink in the delights.

This enigmatic painting is one of the crown jewels of the Prado collection.

An incredible representation by Tintoretto of the events before the Last Supper.

An astounding triptych by Hieronymus Bosch, portraying fantastical crowds of people and monsters in a warning against temptation.

Guernica and more Dedicated to the Queen of Spain, the Reina Sofía sits at the southern end of Madrid's so-called Golden Triangle of Art, which also comprises the Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Its vast and impeccably curated collection of 21,000 artworks is dedicated to the art of the 20th century, with a strong focus on Spanish artists including excellent groups of work by Dalí and Picasso, the country's two greatest modern masters (there's a substantial helping of Miró as well). Since 1992 the museum has been home to Guernica, perhaps Picasso's most acclaimed masterpiece, which beforehand held a residence at the Prado's Casón del Buen Retiro; a controversial move, as the artist's will stated that he wanted the work to be displayed at the Prado. This moving work is a powerful protest against the horrors of war, prompted by the brutal Nationalist firebombing of the village of Guernica in 1937. 20th century showcase The museum's central building is the old General Hospital of Madrid, which was closed down in 1969. Extensive renovations have since greatly expanded the building, with three striking glass circulation towers added in 1989 before the museum was inaugurated officially in 1992; a recent €92 million expansion was completed in 2005. While there are few non-Spaniards represented, the museum nonetheless holds a range of important works by Man Ray, Donald Judd, Robert Delaunay, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon and more. Excellent temporary exhibitions are held amidst the permanent exhibits, and also in the museum's outpost the Palacio de Cristal.

This world-famous painting is Picasso's sensational tribute to victims of the Spanish Civil War.