6 Masterpieces You Can Only See in Madrid
Madrid is full of epic masterpieces you just can’t see anywhere else in the world. From art to architecture and fountains to monuments, here are some of Madrid’s greatest masterpieces.
La Guernica
Museum
La Fuente De Cibeles
Architectural Landmark
This grand fountain and statue standing in the center of Madrid is an icon of the city. It was designed by famous architect Ventura Rodríguez in 1777 and sculpted by Francisco Gutiérrez Arribas. Cibeles, the Greek goddess of fertility and nature, sits perched on a chariot, surrounded by lions, a dragon and a bear (the last two were taken out in 1862). At one point in time, horses used to drink from the fountain. The statue was moved to the Plaza de Cibeles in 1895, where it stands today.
The Garden of Earthly Delights
Museum
Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Early Delights has been housed in the Museo del Prado since 1939, though the painting itself dates back to the late 1400s. This triptych (a three-part painting) depicts the joy and horror of life’s temptations. The left panel shows a scene of Adam and Eve, while the middle panel depicts a garden, filled with nudes, plants and fruit – a scene of lighthearted joy. The right panel chillingly depicts eternal damnation — punishment for all the fun had in the center of the painting.
Puerta de Alcalá
Architectural Landmark
The Puerta de Alcalá monument literally used to be the gateway to Madrid. This neo-classical stately “door”, inaugurated in 1778, sits at what used to be the very edge of the city. Nowadays, it’s a beautiful monument, but of course, the city of Madrid stretches well past the “gate” on all sides. Fun facts about the monument are that you can still see bullet marks and canon shrapnel in the stone, and Katy Perry performed her hit single “Firework” there during the MTV music awards in 2010.
Las Meninas
Museum
Palacio de Cristal
Building, Park