The Reina Sofía museum: one of Madrid's most intriguing art galleries

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, with its extensive collection focusing mainly on Spanish masterpieces, consistently ranks among the most visited art museums in the world. With its historic paintings—including masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, among others—and a central location as part of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, it remains one of the most popular attractions in the city.

The history of the Reina Sofía museum

The museum’s headquarters are in the building for the former San Carlos Hospital, which was founded by King Felipe II in the sixteenth century. After undergoing several modifications and extensions throughout the years, the hospital was shut down in 1965. However, the building was not demolished (despite many rumors) and in 1977 was declared a national monument, owing to its historic and artistic value.

The Reina Sofía Art Center opened in April 1986, after a renovation that began in 1980, holding temporary exhibitions in the building’s ground and first floors. At that point, the museum’s collection consisted of works that were conserved by the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art. In September 1992, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía inaugurated the museum’s permanent collection and established goals for its future, including expanding its collections and holding exhibitions on an international scale. 

In the following years, the museum increased its collection, its temporary exhibits, and the activities that it hosted. Its number of visitors also increased. To fulfil new needs for space, a new building, called the Nouvel Building, opened in September 2005, increasing the museum’s surface area by more than 60%.

The Reina Sofía museum’s collection and galleries

Even schoolchildren know the name of Pablo Picasso, one of Spain's great painters. While the museum's collection includes a number of his works, the jewel in their holdings is "Guernica", an anti-war painting and arguably the most famous and significant of Picasso's works. Other major works by Picasso featured in the museum include Dead Birds, a key example of the painter’s Cubism.

Other prominent Spanish artists also have their own rooms throughout the museum. Salvador Dalí, Julio González and Joan Miró are three other artists that have separate rooms showcasing their paintings. The Great Masturbator, for example, is a famous Dalí painting included in the museum's collection. House with Palm Tree by Miró, Woman with guitar by María Blanchard, and Portrait of Josette by Juan Gris are other major works by Spanish painters in the museum’s vast collection.

The permanent collection at the Reina Sofia museum is displayed on the second and fourth floors of the Sabatini building and the ground and first floors of the Nouvel building. They are divided into three collections showcasing 20th century art from 1900 to 1945, 1945 to 1968, and 1962 to 1982. Some of the most important works featured in the permanent collection include the absurdist Lying Figure by Francis Bacon and Portrait of Sonia Klamery by Anglada Camarasa.

The museum also offers numerous temporary exhibitions, with work from artists like Ree Mortan and Carl Andre. Check the calendar of exhibitions here.

Museo Reina Sofía Tickets

The general admission fee for the Renia Sofía museum  is fairly moderate, with temporary exhibition tickets costing a nominal extra fee. For those looking to hit multiple museums in one day, it's important to note that joint tickets for the Masterworks from the Modern Collection of Kunstmuseum Basel at Museo del Prado and Museo Reina Sofía can also be purchased. The museum also offers free admission on certain days in April, May, October, and December -- be sure to check before you go.
Visitors can reach the museum via metro lines 1 and 3. Take metro Line 1 to station Atocha or Line 3 to Lavapiés. In addition, you can stop at the Atocha-RENFE train station. Give yourself at least an hour or two to absorb the fantastic collection of modern art at Museo Reina Sofia.

Getting Around

To get here, take lines 1, 2, and 3 on the metro, and alight at Sol station. Sights like Plaza Mayor, Arenal Street, Calle Mayor, and of course, the classic El Corte Inglés department store are all a short walk away. A crop of hotels in the vicinity allow travelers to stay in the heart of the action. The plaza is a great place to watch locals and travelers blend in a fascinating mix. Come visit it!