While you are in Madrid…

An extraordinary display of artistic treasures awaits you

Madrid boasts a host of excellent museums. The celebrated “Golden Triangle”, “Big Three” or “Walk of the Arts” includes three great Museums: the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, all located in a beautiful historical area of the city, nearby the Retiro Park and just a few minutes walk away from each other. These are three of the most important museums in the world and, together, comprise one of the finest art collections.

However, Madrid houses more art treasures than the Big Three alone. Should you feel ready for more, a bunch of rich collections are at hand in the surrounding area of the Golden Triangle. Here goes a selection of the finest ones.

The Real Academia de las Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Fine Arts Museum & Gallery), once Spain’s premiere arts academy -established by Fernando VI in 1752-, is a much worthy visit, displaying works by many of the artists you may have seen already at the Prado or the Thyssen-Bornemisza, with an advantage that the knowledgeable traveller usually appreciates: Almost no visitors around and the subsequent feeling of discovering an underrated jewel! Picasso and Dali are former students of this arts academy, housed in a 18th century palace just a short walk down the street from Puerta del Sol. C/ Alcalá, 13

The Naval Museum, which charts the naval history of Spain and the Spanish Armada, is just a few hundred meters away from the Museo del Prado, next to the Retiro Park and very near to the Madrid Stock Exchange. Its collection helps the visitor in understanding the historical dimension of Spain as a maritime power, displaying jewels such as the world map of Juan de la Cosa, a Spanish cartographer and explorer born in 1460, who made the earliest extant European world map to incorporate the territories of the Americas that were discovered in the 15th century. The Museum will be reopening its doors on September 1 after the completion of its restoration project, which means you would be enjoying a renovated display of the collection of paintings, weapons, coins, charts, uniforms, ship models and navigation tools. Paseo del Prado, 5

The Decorative Arts Museum is a lovely small museum displaying a most sizeable collection –ideal for visitors with children-. While you are in Madrid for the Conference, a temporary exhibition on the Bauhaus as teaching model will be on in the museum. C/ Montalbán, 12

The National Library is next to the Columbus Square, near the shopping district of Serrano. The building is worth a visit. The library houses one of the richest collections of manuscripts and rare books and has a very interesting programme of temporary exhibitions. Paseo de Recoletos, 20-22

Private Collections and Art Foundations

Should you have enough time, you may want to enjoy the wide variety of exhibitions organised by private museums and foundations. Along the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos, you will find the Caixa Forum building –a great example of architectural refurbishing, with the largest vertical garden in Madrid- and the Mapfre Foundation –a small palace offering high quality exhibitions within a most welcoming and sizeable space-.

Conference Organiser: GB Consulting - Pedro Teixeira 10 2º Oficina 7 - 28020 Madrid - Spain
Phone: +34 91 556 38 06 / Fax: +34 91 555 32 90 / Email: info2011@eventsgb.com / Web: www.eventsgb.com