National Archaeological Museum, Madrid

Since it was renovated in 2014, it has also become one of the most visited museums in the capital with over half a million visitors a year.

History

The Archaeological Museum was founded by Isabel II of Spain in 1867 to preserve the past of the nation, from Prehistory to Modern Times. The cultural legacy of Spain, which had formerly been divided into various organizations, was gathered into one when the Museum was inaugurated.

Between 2008 and 2014, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport spent 65 million euros to renovate the Museum completely, which had very positive results: since its reopening, the number of visitors has almost tripled.

The Collection

The collection contains mostly items discovered in the Iberian Peninsula throughout history. There are also Egyptian (one of our favourites), Roman and Greek antiquities.

Some of the most famous objects on display include the Lady of Elche, the Mausoleum of Pozo Moro, the Lady of Baza, the six crowns that make up the Treasure of Guarrazar, the Statue of Livia, the Harsomtus-Em-Hat Statue and the “Estela de Nebsumenu”.

A great museum to visit

Not only does the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid have one of the best collections in Spain, it is also very well organized and distributed. It is inexpensive (and sometimes even free depending on the day of the month), educational, and interesting, all of which make it very worthwhile.

If you are thinking of exploring the museum in-depth and uncovering the country’s history, we recommend going with plenty of time to read the explanatory signs.