Reopened to the public in 2014 after a major renovation, the MAN – National Archaeological Museum of Madrid, houses one of the most important collections of ancient artifacts in the world ranging from prehistoric times to the nineteenth century.
Founded by Queen Isabella II in 1867 and located in the most elegant and à la mode district of the city, the Barrio de Salamanca, the National Archaeological Museum allows you to complete the route of the more famous Paseo del Arte with a series of exhibits covering eras which have no place in the great Madrid museums.
The collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid
Here you will find Greek ceramics, Visigothic crafts and artifacts from the period of the Muslim domination of the Iberian Peninsula. Among the best known and most acclaimed objects, the Dama de Elche undoubtedly stands out, a mysterious female figure who testifies the contact between ancient Iberian and Greek art, from which the lady, or goddess, would derive harmony, beauty and a sense of proportion. Other noteworthy works are the Guarrazar treasure, an extraordinary example of Visigothic goldsmithing, the Ciborium of Zamorra, a very precious ivory that shows the fusion of Muslim art with the local one and the collection of Greek vases that archaeologists from all over the world consider to be one of the most extraordinary in terms of quantity and quality of the pieces. Other interesting finds come from ancient Egypt, Rome and the Middle East.
The rich collection, combined with an innovative and well-studied visit path and the ease of reading the works thanks to explanatory and interactive panels, have made the National Archaeological Museum one of the most visited museums in the Spanish capital in recent years.
Location: Calle Serrano 13
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: from 9:30 a.m to 8 p,m.
Sunday and bank holidays: from 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m.
Closed on: Mondays, 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 Dicember.
Entrance fees:
Adults: 3€
Reduced tickets: 1,50€
Free entrance: on Saturday from 2 p.m and Sunday morning; children (until 18 years old); adults from 65 on; students until 25 years old.
How to get there:
Metro: Serrano, linea 4; Retiro, linea 2.
Train (Cercanías): Recoletos, linee C1, C2, C7, C8 e C10.
Bus: 1, 5, 9, 14, 19, 21, 27, 45, 51, 53, 74 e 150.