deconarch

Another “Must” in Madrid is the Reina Sofia Museum, a huge museum complex. Opened in 1990, it houses the biggest collection of Spanish modern art – even though the collection has been focused “a little bit” during the Franco regime. Yet, what is missing in the Reina Sofia, is completed by the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, just a few walking minutes away on Paseo del Prado (though I didn’t have the time to visit the later, too).

The Reina Sofia is famous for being the new “home” of Picasso’s Guernica (1937, oil on canvas and impressive 349 cm × 777 cm) – the painting itself being an important testimony of Spain’s recent past, it was returned to Spain in 1981 after Franco’s death and the reestablishment of a democratic system in Spain, more here).

At the museum, Guernica appears like the Spanish Mona Lisa drawing sums of tourists to the show, thus you can’t really say that you can experience the painting – it’s more like “been there and seen that”: two guards on each side, motion sensors, safety distance of 3metres,… Nevertheless, Guernica has got one decisive advantage: it is much bigger than the Mona Lisa.

So, impressive as it is, the more interesting parts of the show can be found – and contemplated – in the adjacent rooms where the development of Guernica can be observed, the document photos shot by Dora Maar, etc.

all photos by SK (not Guernica, of course)

Back to architecture:

The Museo Reina Sofia is housed in an former hospital from the 18th century, long, high rooms, a nice patio inside. The permanent exhibition is sorted according to art movements. In 1980, the building was restored to be opened as one of the greatest and most modern art galleries in the world in 1990. Most prominent are the three steel and glass elevator towers in front of the old building, designed by José Luis Iñiguez de Onzoño and Antonio Vázquez de Castro in collaboration with British architect Ian Ritchie.

More about the museum’s history here.

In 2001, the complex got an extension constructed by Jean Nouvel – not the omnipresent Rafael Moneo. It oneed in September 2005. Thus, the museum has increased more than 60% of the old building’s surface area (51,297 square meters), now reaching 84,048 square meters. We haven’t been inside as the exhibition is presented in the old wing, while the new wing is reserved to another huge entrance area, offices, facilities, etc..

Most striking is the red auditorium which, I can’t help it, reminds me of an old Bosch fridge. (Mind you – I like these old huge things :) ).

The official website of the Museo Reina Sofia.

http://www.museoreinasofia.es/museoreinasofia/live/Museo/Historia-antecedentes_en.html

By the way, on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, the museum offers free entrance. But apart from that, the entrance fee is an amazing 6€ / 3€ reduced!!