Spain's historical-artistic heritage drives demand for cultural tourism

In 2024, museums and cultural spaces in Spain reached record-breaking visitor numbers for the century, consolidating themselves as essential attractions for both national and international tourists. The data reflects a significant increase in visitors, driven by a varied range of exhibitions and growing interest in historical-artistic heritage. According to official figures, state museums managed by the Ministry of Culture exceeded 3.1 million visitors, while Spanish National Heritage sites recorded 7.1 million visits. The three most important museums in Madrid (Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza), which are privately managed but receive support from the Ministry of Culture, reached almost 6 million.

Prado Museum (3.45 million). This museum in Madrid is one of the most important art galleries in the world, presenting works by Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, Rubens, and Titian. Its key pieces include Las Meninas, The Garden of Earthly Delights, and The Naked Maja. Reina Sofia Museum (1.53 million). Specialized in contemporary and modern art. Its most iconic work is Picasso's Guernica, alongside pieces by Dalí, Miró, and other 20th-century artists. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (951,821). This private collection is made up of over 1,000 works, ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. It complements the Prado and Reina Sofia with pieces by Van Gogh, Hopper, Caravaggio, and Kandinsky.

Las Meninas by Velázquez © Prado Museum; and The Thyssen Museum presents almost 1,000 works that allow us to travel through the history of Western painting from the 13th to the 20th century © Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum hall

Royal Collections Gallery (648,209). Located in Madrid, next to the Royal Palace and inaugurated in 2023, this museum houses a selection of works of art, tapestries, furniture, and historical objects belonging to the Spanish Crown. The collection includes pieces by Velázquez, Goya, Caravaggio, and Bosch, as well as armor and royal carriages. National Archaeological Museum (627,334). This museum in the capital was founded in 1867 and houses one of the most important archaeological collections in Spain, with pieces ranging from prehistoric times to the 19th century. Highlights include the Lady of Elche, the Lady of Baza, and the Treasure of Guarrazar. Altamira National Museum (292,780). This museum dedicated to prehistory and cave art is located in Santillana del Mar (Cantabria) and houses an exact replica of the Altamira Cave, known as the "Sistine Chapel of Quaternary Art" for its paintings of bison, deer, and horses dated to over 15,000 years ago. It is a leading figure in the research and conservation of Paleolithic art. Sephardic Museum (259,211). Dedicated to the history and culture of the Jewish people in Spain, and in particular to the Sephardic community, it is based in El Tránsito Synagogue, in Toledo. This space is located in a 14th-century building presenting some of the most impressive Mudejar decorations in the country. The collection includes manuscripts, liturgical objects, Hebrew inscriptions, and pieces that tell the story of Jewish presence in the Iberian peninsula before their expulsion in 1492. National Sculpture Museum (229,857). This museum located in Valladolid specializes in Spanish sculpture, with a large collection of pieces from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The main building is located in The College of San Gregorio, an Isabelline-Gothic style building. Its sculptures of Gregorio Fernández and Alonso Berruguete are not to be missed.