1 Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
2 Museo de América
3 Museo Lázaro Galdiano
4 Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
5 Museo Sorolla
6 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
7 Palacio Real
8 Parque del Retiro
9 Plaza Mayor
10 El Prado
The former home of financier José Lázaro Galdiano (1872-1947) is crammed with a profusion of rich treasures .
Although the quality and quantity of his private collection are extraordinary, the works have been compressed into 30 rooms, making it difficult to appreciate their individual glory. Major changes are in the pipeline, including a more selective approach to the arrangement and the installation of air-conditioning. Until then, buy a guide from the small shop before you begin.
The ground floor is devoted to religious art, such as altarpieces and richly worked crucifixes. In one corner is the Gran Copa del Emperador Rodolfo II, a mad German king's exotic 16th-century glass drinking cup. On the first floor are walls of religious works, including two exquisite small paintings by Luis Cranach. On the floor above, in Room 20, Hieronymous Bosch's portrayal of St John the Baptist is as zany as anything by Salvador Dalí five centuries later. The roll call of the Old Masters includes cattle by Albert Cuyp, a ruffed nobleman by van Dyck and, in Room 23, a severe portrait by Velázquez. There is also an elongated figure of Christ with his mother by Jorge Manuel Theotocopuli, better known as El Greco (the Greek). Room 25 is hung with British ladies painted by Gainsborough, Lawrence, Reynolds, Lely, Romney and Gilbert Stuart from the USA. Room 27 is mainly Italian, with scenes of Venice by Tiepolo and Guardi. Finally, in Room 30, among the many Goyas in the collection, are sketches for his 'Black Paintings' in the Prado.Address: Calle de Serrano 122
Phone: 91 561 60 84
Open: Tue-Sun 10-2. Closed Aug
Restaurant: Plenty near by (Inexpensive)
Bus: 9, 12, 16, 19, 27, 45, 51, 150
Metro: Rubén Darío, Núñez del Balboa
Accessible: None
Admission: Cheap; free under-18, over-65, Sat
Other: Museo Sorolla
Practical: Free guided tour noon daily. Extra opening during Noches de Museo (museum nights) Thu 7:30pm- 11pm, end Jun to mid Oct
Info: Calle del Duque de Medinaceli 2 Phone: 91 429 49 51
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