The Prado Museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, the wife of Ferdinand VII. In 1819, it is located in the present building as the Royal Museum. Here exhibited paintings of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German schools.

But to get a complete picture of its collections should be familiar not only with the exposition, deployed in the central building (painting from the Middle Ages to the XVIII century), but also visit the Palace of Villahermosa, which houses a fine collection from the collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza (painting XII-XX centuries ), and the Cason del Buen Retiro, a branch of the museum, which is located on the street of Philip IV (Spanish painting and sculpture of the XIX century, as well as works by some of the British and French painters).

Prado has a rich collection of works of art, many of which are among the genuine masterpieces .  The museum houses the works of such famous Spanish masters as Berruguete, El Greco, Ribera, Zurbaran, Murillo, exceptional for its completeness and quality of the collection of paintings by Velazquez (including "Surrender of Breda," "Las Meninas", "spinner", numerous portraits of the King Philip IV and his family, a series of portraits of the royal jesters and much more) and Goya (among them - "Family of Charles IV", "Naked maha" and "Dressed maha", "Shooting at night from 2 nd to May 3, 1808 Year ", a series of stunning portraits) .  The Dutch School is represented by the work of such brilliant artists as Rogier van der Weyden, Bosch, Memling, Breughel .  From the German masters should first call Durer .  Exceptionally rich collection of Italian painting - Fra Angelico and Botticelli, Raphael and Titian, Giorgione, Veronese and Tintoretto .  In addition to painting, you will find in the museum collection of ancient coins, porcelain and jewelery .