Prado Museum Tour: A Guided Crash Course with Skip-the-Line Tickets

During this 3-hour tour, we will explore the Prado Museum, famous not only for works by such major Spanish artists as Velazquez and Goya, but also for a wide range of Flemish, Italian, and French art–representative of the far reach and influence of the Spanish Empire. Under the tutelage of an art history expert, we’ll gain a broad, contextual understanding of this exciting collection while visiting some of the most significant paintings in one of the world’s greatest art museums. Our Prado Museum guided tour is offered for both small groups and private tours.

We’ll begin our tour by looking at the paintings that once formed part of the private collections of Spanish monarchs. These works are the initial core of the Prado Museum and account for the presence of such masterpieces as The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch and The Descent from the Cross by Roger van der Weyden, two of the most important paintings in the Prado. Next, we'll turn our attention to the advent of the Habsburg dynasty in Spain. Brought upon by Charles V, who, along with his son Philip II, became prominent patrons of Venetian artists, chiefly Titian. We may dwell for a while with this artist's powerful portraits of both regents. We’ll also discuss how a fascination with Italy—specifically Venice—infused the work of Velazquez, whom King Philip IV (grandson of Philip II) sent to Italy to acquire paintings.

Next, we’ll look at Rubens, who sojourned at the court in Madrid and who provides a unique contrast to Velazquez, in particular Velazquez's famous Las Meninas. We'll finish in the Goya rooms, where we can review the relationships between artists and their royal patrons as we study such works as The Family of Charles IV. We'll conclude with a deep appreciation for the variety of masterpieces contained within the Prado, and how this museum serves as a capsule of European history from the Renaissance to modernity.

At the end of this tour, you will leave with much more in-depth knowledge about world-famous artists, ready to tell your family and friends everything you've learned!