National Archaeological Museum

What to expect

The museum was founded in 1867 by a royal decree of Isabella II. Since 1895 it has been in a neoclassical building by Francisco Jareño on Calle de Serrano, which it shares with the National Library. After a long closure it reopened in 2014 with a modern layout, and the collections run from prehistory to the Middle Ages, plus Egypt and Greece.

You enter at basement level and start with prehistory, then climb through Iberian, Roman, Visigothic and Islamic Spain, with medieval kingdoms and the Near East on the top floor. In the forecourt is a replica of the Altamira cave paintings, made from a mould using photogrammetry. The visit is indoors, well laid out and rarely crowded compared with the big art museums.

Don't miss

• The Lady of Elche
• The Altamira cave replica
• Visigothic votive crowns from Guarrazar
• The Roman winter mosaic
• The Bull of Osuna and Iberian sculpture

Tips for your visit

• Follow the route from prehistory upwards; it is chronological and easy to read.
• Allow about two hours, less if you only want the highlights.
• It is close to the Puerta de Alcalá and the Retiro, so it combines well with a walk through the park.