A less known jewel among Madrid’s museums is MAN, National Archaeological Museum of Madrid, in the Barrio of Salamanca, not far from Paseo del Prado. It hosts one of the most interesting collections of artworks and objects from Mediterranean antique culture up to 1800. Greek ceramics, Visigothic goldsmith’s art and Spanish-Muslims ivories are displayed in a renewed museum after a long restyling that lasted 6 years.
The Lady of Elche
Very cult object in the collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid is the “Lady of Elche“, a fine Iberian sculpture that shows signs of Greek art. Still an enigmatic work, the subject of which has been identified from time to time with a divinity, a queen or a deceased woman, as the rear cavity would suggest, perhaps intended to house her relics.
Other treasures and the display of the Altamira cave
Among the other objects in the collection, the Treasure of Guarrazar stands out, an exceptional example of Visigothic goldsmith art and the Pyx of Zamora, a work in ivory of Spanish-Muslim manufacture. Also the collection of Greek ceramics is considered one of the most important in the world.
Recently has reopened the reconstruction of the Altamira Cave inside the museum garden. In an underground room are precisely reproduced the rock paintings of the famous cave located in Cantabria and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
The Archaeological Museum of Madrid offers a guided tour in foreign languages included in the ticket price for up to 20 participants. This guided visit can be booked directly at the ticket office upon entry.
Information
https://www.man.es/man/en/home.html
Calle de Serrano 13, Madrid
Tuesday-Saturday: 9.30-20
Sundays and Holydays: 9.30-15
Full tickets: 3 E
Reductions: 1,5 E
How to get there
Metro: Colón (L4), Retiro (L2), Serrano (L4)
Cercanias: Madrid-Recoletos
Bus: 001, 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 34, 37, 45, 51, 52, 53, 74, 146, 150, 203, C03, E1,
BiciMad:
– Biblioteca Nacional (Paseo de Recoletos, 20)
– Villanueva (calle Claudio Coello, 109)
– Colón A y B (calle Serrano, 34)
– Columela (calle Serrano, 8)