prado

Prado generally refers to the Museo Nacional del Prado, an art museum in Madrid, Spain, widely regarded as one of the world’s finest collections of European art. The museum’s holdings span painting and sculpture from the 12th to the early 20th century, with outstanding works by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rubens, Bosch, and many others.

Architecturally, the building on the Paseo del Prado was designed by Juan de Villanueva and opened in 1819 as the Museo Real de Pinturas. The core of the collection originated from the Spanish royal holdings and has grown through acquisitions and donations over the years. The Prado is a central component of Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art,” along with the nearby Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, and it attracts visitors from around the world.

Prado is also a Spanish word meaning meadow or field, a meaning reflected in its use in place names and surnames across Spanish-speaking regions. Beyond the museum, the term appears in various geographic and cultural contexts, sometimes indicating rural landscapes or historical estates.

Today, the Prado functions as a major cultural institution with ongoing conservation, scholarly research, and public programs. It remains a focal point of Madrid’s cultural life and a key reference point for the study of European art.