A short post covering a day in Spain’s capital back in October 2006. Was a busy weekend as I also visited Seville, before returning back to a project I was working on near Antwerp.
One of the highlights of Madrid was the trio of stunning art galleries, Museo del Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofia. They contain many of the greatest paintings produced between the 12th to 20th centuries, including Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ and Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. Unfortunately photography is mostly prohibited inside so I don’t have much to share here, but the collections are incredible. They are also open late into the evenings, which was welcome.
Thankfully I could take photos inside the enormous Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest in Europe. I also had time outside in a reasonable sized queue to admire it’s facade.
My favourite part was the Royal Armory, which has one of the best collections in the world, though my 2006 era budget digital camera was struggling with the low light.
Somehow I also fitted in a quick visit to the moderately diverting National Anthropology Museum.
I didn’t spend long enough there, but the streets were pleasant to explore, if easy to get lost in pre-offline Google Maps times.
