Museo Nacional del Prado

The Museo Nacional del Prado opened to the public in 1819 under the title of the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures and originally included a catalog of 311 paintings by Spanish artists. In the centuries since, the museum's collections have dramatically expanded; today, they include thousands of paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, and pieces of decorative art. 

Attracting more than 3 million visitors each year, the Museo Nacional del Prado also offers robust educational and research opportunities that include programs for students and teachers, community outreach, and cultural action projects. Further, the Prado School, housed in the museum's Study Center, supports projects in conservation and restoration and trains aspiring museum curators and technicians. In the realm of research, the Museo Nacional del Prado operates a digital library, archive, and encyclopedia as well as technical studies and restoration projects.