Museo Arqueológico Nacional

Salamanca

The showpiece National Archaeology Museum contains a sweeping accumulation of artefacts behind its towering facade. Daringly redesigned within, the museum ranges across Spain's ancient history and the large collection includes stunning mosaics taken from Roman villas across Spain, intricate Muslim-era and Mudéjar handiwork, sculpted figures such as the Dama de Ibiza and Dama de Elche, examples of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles and a partial copy of the prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira (Cantabria).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

    Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

    0.59 MILES

    The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is one of the three points composing Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art along the Paseo del Prado (Art Walk), together with the…

  • Basilica de San Francisco El Grande.

    Basílica de San Francisco El Grande

    1.62 MILES

    Crowning Madrid’s oldest neighborhood of La Latina is an architectural and visual masterpiece that is the Basílica de San Francisco el Grande (Basilica of…

  • Las Ventas Bullring (Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas), a Neo-Mudejar (Moorish) style building situated in the Guindalera quarter of the district of Salamanca and home of bullfighting in Madrid, Spain.

    Plaza de Toros Las Ventas

    1.47 MILES

    One of Spain’s most atmospheric arenas, the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas has hosted everything from Beatles concerts to motocross competitions during its…

  • People on boats at Monument to Alfonso XII in the Parque del Buen Retiro (Park of the Pleasant Retreat).

    Parque del Buen Retiro

    0.5 MILES

    Madrid’s emblematic park, known locally as El Retiro, was the exclusive reserve of Spanish royalty until it was opened to the public in the late 19th…

  • Templo de Debod at sunset

    Templo de Debod

    1.51 MILES

    Few people would ever guess that a 2200-year-old Egyptian temple exists in the center of Madrid. Yet the Templo de Debod is in no way a Vegas-style…

  • Statue outside Muse del Prado, Retiro.

    Museo del Prado

    0.69 MILES

    Welcome to one of the world's premier art galleries. More than 7000 paintings are held in the Museo del Prado’s collection (of which only around 1500 are…

  • MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: Reina Sofia Museum on October 27, 2010 in Madrid: This museum is dedicated to the exhibition of modern and contemporary art in Madrid, capital of Spain.; Shutterstock ID 155320763; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

    1.07 MILES

    Home to Picasso’s Guernica, arguably Spain’s most famous artwork, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is Madrid’s premier collection of contemporary art. In…

  • Spain, Madrid, part of the exterior of the Museo Lazaro Galdiano.

    Museo Lázaro Galdiano

    0.94 MILES

    This imposing early-20th-century Italianate stone mansion, set discreetly back from the street, belonged to Don José Lázaro Galdiano (1862–1947), a…