Amazing, from start to finish! I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist who explained…read moreeverything we needed to know to navigate the museum including the use of the audio guide. Once beginning I was so impressed with the time and detail that was put in to every explanation for each point of the audio guide. They clearly really wanted you to understand the material and took great efforts to make that happen. Once I entered the museum I was wowed by all of the artifacts that they had preserved and showcased. Again, the attention to detail paid in every display including the description of each item's significance, really helped establish a holistic understanding of the various facets of the mint and how it worked. One of the really cool things was seeing the components of how the water wheel worked form the interior of the building and then viewing it from the exterior of the building, again so a holistic understanding of the mechanism at play could be understood. Absolutely top notch museum, if traveling to or through Segovia, neglecting to come here would be a huge mistake.

Segovia is a fun town and besides the aqueduct this place is another site to visit because it's a…read morecastle! So much art and architecture to admire It's beautiful and it's always a trip to take a trip down history past!

We enjoyed the Alcázar very much. It wasn't too crowded and we could linger at the displays and not…read morefeel rushed. There are several different levels of tours with some including audio.

The last time Jamie W and I vacationed in Madrid over 15 years ago, we made the big mistake of…read moretrying to squeeze this museum and the Prado into the same afternoon. We had to race through the Reina Sofia without allowing the requisite time to appreciate the masterworks constantly hidden by the crowds. We didn't make the same mistake last week and decided to focus a full afternoon here. There was no avoiding the long line that snaked around the plaza even though we bought the 32,8€ Paseo del Arte passes which covers all three of Madrid's essential museums. We still had to redeem our passes to get our museum tickets. It only took about 25 minutes before we made the beeline to the museum's spotlight masterwork, Picasso's "Guernica" on the second floor. Viewing was packed and unmovable, but it's still the definitive visualization of the horrors of war made striking by the monochromatic palette (Video 1). The building was once an 18th-century hospital before it became an art museum as recently as 1988. It houses Spain's most significant collection of 20th-century art. Along with Picasso, other contemporary masters are also on display here. Artists represented include Salvador Dali (Photos 3 & 5), Joan Miro (Photo 2), and Rene Magritte (Photo 7). Up on the third floor is even more contemporary art dating back only to 1975 including works by Andy Warhol (Photo 6) and Robert Mapplethorpe (Photo 4). This was our favorite of Madrid's Golden Triangle which includes the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Definitely take your time perusing. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qwUK6nAE-z

If you're into 20th century art, pop by this famous art museum. Near many other sites in Madrid,…read morethis museum is big. It's 3-4 floors of exhibits with art from some famous artists like Picasso. On a Friday afternoon in September, I walked in, paid 12 Euros, and explored for 1.5 hours. The museum is easy to navigate with signs everywhere, elevators and stairs taking you up and down. Don't miss the courtyard in the middle. There are benches and more art there.

Great museum, can bring water in, no photos allowed, confusing directions to taxi stand…read more The most popular painting by far was the Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. The only painting that was hard to see due to the crowds! Consider bringing small handheld binoculars or field glasses to better see the Bosch and for some large paintings. People drank from their water bottles in the hallways. Appreciated that we could stand within about a meter (three feet) of each painting and sculpture! We felt that the people of Spain trusted us with their heritage. People behaved well and returned the trust. There is a lesson there.

Visiting the Prado Museum was an unforgettable, experience for my husband and me. Being able to…read morestand directly in front of iconic artwork I'd previously only studied in books and classes was incredible--a real bucket-list moment that made the entire trip feel special. Seeing pieces by Botticelli, Goya, Picasso, and so many other legendary artists up close was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It has given me a different perspective of art that I will certainly carry. That said, a few logistical hiccups kept it from being a full five-star visit: * Unmanageable Crowds: Navigating the space near the most famous masterpieces was a challenge. Swarms of people constantly gathered around key artworks, making it nearly impossible to pause, linger, or quietly ponder the detail in a meaningful way. * The No-Photo Battle: The docents/security guards were endlessly trying to enforce the no-picture rule, but honestly, it felt like a fool's errand. Visitors were taking photos at every turn anyway, creating a weirdly tense, cat-and-mouse dynamic throughout the galleries. We still purchased a few of the books they were offering, but I still snapped a picture every now and again. * Sheer Scale: The museum is absolutely enormous! Because there is so much ground to cover, it almost becomes overwhelming, and it's tough to fully absorb and appreciate the depth of the collection without feeling sensory overload. What saved the day for us: We opted for the audio earphone guides, which I highly recommend. They provided fantastic context and structure to help us navigate the massive layout and truly appreciate what we were seeing. The rest areas were much needed, and the bathrooms were spotlessly maintained. To wrap up our visit, we spent time in the gift shop, which was exceptional! They have thoughtful keepsakes and high-quality items at every price point, making it easy to find the perfect souvenir to mark our trip. Overall, despite the chaotic crowds and strict enforcement attempts, the sheer beauty and significance of the collection make the Prado a absolute must-see when in Madrid!

I am not Catholic but I can appreciate a beautiful church when I see one. I've seen a good number…read moreof them and this one is lovely. Administrated by the priests of Opus Dei who you may have heard of from The Da Vinci Code book and movie. Not that there are any clues here to an adventure or anything like that. It's a church, not a Hollywood movie set. Construction began in 1739 and completed in 1745. It is in the Baroque style. Today it serves as a minor basilica. Inside, and please be respectful, it is lovely. Art and scenery that show the power of the Catholic Church. Well worth a visit. [Review 12526 overall, 2316 of 2019.]

I was just wandering around this area, and somehow I found this church, the building looked quite…read morecool, so i decided to go in and took a look. This basilica church isn't so big, But it really got the wow moment. I like the style inside as well, it reminds me some similar churches back in Germany. Well, they are the same style after all. I did saw this two huge figures lying there with flowers and other stuff, not sure how I should call it in the correct way. I asked my partner and he told me it is a tradition of procession, they will carry them around the city, during the week before Easter. We were there near Easter. I think I already saw procession celemory the other day near the Palacio Real. But these two looked even more fancy. I found the painting on the roof quite nice. The church is not so well knowing but sure it is worth to visit. And no admission fee.

Did you ever go to an art museum, look at something on the wall and think, "ah, I can do better…read morethan that!" Well then this is the museum for you; this is a museum where I truly believe that most of the museum goers can do a better job at creating art than the guy this museum is named for! I'm guessing that the guy was born in the city or close by because really, I have no idea why they would make a museum for him. I'm not saying that his stuff is bad; just that anybody can do what he did and most likely better. Picasso did some crazy stuff too but he created brilliant art as well. This guy Vicente, I guess, forgot to do that good stuff. Well if he did, it wasn't in this museum. I gave the museum two stars because not only was it just a few Euros to get in, but there was an exhibition of Juan Gris paintings, and SIg. Gris is a fine artist.

We had a fun evening out at Madrid's La Coquette Blues Bar…read more Got there at around 7:30 pm - doors open at 8, and a line forms outside the relatively small place, so that timing was perfect. Settled into the very cool cavern-like subterranean space with rough stone walls, vintage blues show posters and a terrific Chicago blues soundtrack. A waiter who spoke English took drink orders, and everybody got bowls of sunflower seeds in the shell. It got crowded, but not ridiculously so, because they limit admission, letting a few new people in when others leave. They feature a rotating roster of blues bands who each do a three-night run. Check out their web site (it's their Facebook page) for who's playing. As usual when I see a music listing somewhere, I looked the group up on YouTube, to check out what they actually sound like. The combo we caught - The Maria Avilas Quartet - came on at 9 pm. It was a good-time Chicago-style blues band with guitar, standup bass, drums and a female singer, and we stayed for most of the second set as well. The crowd was really upbeat and friendly, and the beer was cold. Later in the evening, the waiter offered selected people (lucky us!) free mini-shots. Bottom line: we really enjoyed the place, and highly recommend it for a fun evening out.

Good, divey Blues Bar (live band) we found and jumped into after dinner. Got there around 11'ish…read more Had some beers, drinks, and listened to the live Blues Band which was pretty good. Good selection of beers and liquor... the bartender makes a very good Mojito (almost every table had one). Generous pours on all drinks. Decent beer selection. Seating is a little tight but it's not a big place. Looks like an old bomb shelter (cool look).

The Santa Teresa museum features the ring finger of the Santa Teresa and her history…read moreunsurprisingly. In order for one to become saint in the past, the saint's body has to be not decomposed after burial and also need to then be cut apart so that the body parts can be hosted at various sites for religious purposes. Saint Teresa's body underwent such a special arrangement since she became a saint because her body did not rot. Her ring finger is cut and featured at this museum. When you see the finger, the finger no longer resembles a finger but more of a long, strange wooden stick with growths on either side. There is a large ring on Saint Teresa's finger because like all priests and nuns, she is married to God. Saint Teresa is also known as Jesus's Teresa because she is known to see visions. One such vision revealed her speaking to Jesus, who called her Jesus's Teresa.

Don't overlook this small but high quality collection. After being overwhelmed by the golden…read moretriangle of Madrid art museums, this museum is much more comfortable and will only take an hour or two. It's lovely building in a good neighborhood for eating, and cafes. Try En Paella 5 minutes walking distance.

A hidden gem of a museum in Madrid. Beautiful gardens and loved getting to walk through the house…read morekept with some of its original furniture. Learning about the artist and artwork was enriching. Not very crowded either and at a great price (€3 for 1 adult)