Art odyssey in Madrid and Berlin…
All great capitals have their art scenes well chalked out. You dial Paris for Louvre and Florence for the Uffizi Gallery. You go to London for Tate Modern and New York for the MET. But did you know that the capitals of Spain and Germany hold rank among cities with top museum landscapes? Boasting not one or two, but hundreds of museums for your art-craving soul. If you’re hard-pressed for time, this whirlwind download will set you back just by a day in each city. So add these iconic art-meccas to your dream list now!
Madrid has art in its veins
Spain has more than its share of legendary artists…Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Miró and Picasso…all of the greats. If Barcelona is synonymous with Gaudi’s architecture, Madrid is the ‘go-to’ Spanish city for art. The country’s capital will have you yearning for more art than you can digest.
Trace the Golden Triangle of Art: Take a journey through Spain’s artistic past. Have your fill of the three world-class arts institutions conveniently located within a stone’s throw of each other in the Golden Triangle of Art in the city.
Root for the notables: You’re no superhuman…don’t even think that you can cover all the galleries studded with more than 3,000 canvases at the 200-year old Prado. Map it out and get selective with these timeless canvasses by superstar painters: Hieronymus Bosch’s surreal ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’, Albrecht Dürer’s Self Portrait and Diego Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’. Spare extra time for Spain’s most prolific artist Goya who stands apart with his two equally entrancing genres…the court sponsored pieces and those about everyday Spaniards. His ‘Majas’ may leave you speechless. As will El Greco’s modernistic ‘Christ in the Garden of Olives’.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza offers an extraordinary private collection of eclectic masterpieces by Italian, Dutch, German and Russian masters. Some of the most striking? Ghirlandaio’s ‘Giovanna Tornabuoni portrait’, Canaletto’s ‘San Marco Square’ and Grimshaw’s ‘Shipping on the Clyde’.
Reina Sofia is literally devoted to Salvador Dali’s surrealist stage. His highly visual and symbolic artwork will have you recall a quote from his book, ‘My secret life’: “There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad”. Also mull over Guernica, Picasso’s most renowned work, and one of the top five paintings in the world. Its unusual depiction of the horror of bombing of Guernica in 1937, narrates the intensity of Picasso’s anti-war feelings.
Berlin has art in its air
The Wall falls and Berlin opens its doors to all things global. Breaks free at last from a dark, depressing and scary world, when one had to conform or be killed. Morphs into one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world…flaunting a multi-faceted identity and free-spirited climate. Imagine…the city was once the seat of a man hellbent on wiping out world heritage. Hitler had branded most art as degenerate and anti-Nazi…including works of great artists like Pablo Picasso, Cezanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh and ordered thousands others to be banned and plundered. That didn’t exactly pan out how he wanted! Because today, Berlin is an art capital like no other city is…a magnet for crazy, creative minds.
Hit up the Museum Mile: Practically, the entire day can be devoted to the Museum Island of Berlin, which stretches from Spree River to the Kupfergraben. This UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site is home to five of Berlin’s most important museums built between 1824 and 1930 and houses collections spanning 6000 years of artistic endeavour. Its one of the richest art museum landscapes in the world…so you’re forgiven if you get greedy.
Root for the notables: Start with the fabulous Neues Museum of Egyptian antiquities…admiring the statues, busts, wall friezes, hieroglyphics, tombs, mummies, jewellery and wall carvings. The famous Nefertiti bust, with its one empty eye socket will make you relive portions of Michelle Moran’s book on the famous queen’s life.
The Pergamon Museum, dedicated to art, religion and history of ancient civilisations of mysterious lands like Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Arabia is the most impressive of all. The amazing life-size model of ancient Pergamon city (one of the three cities where Christianity was adopted in 1st AD) with the Dionosys temple, a huge altar where they sacrificed animals, frieze on base all over showing war of gods over demons rekindles your interest to travel to forgotten lands. Huge reconstructed gates of Pergamon, the recreated of the Pergamon Altar, and the two-storey Roman Gate of Miletus stand out, literally. Another stunner is the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, with its blue mosaic, engraved animal figures, yellow, white and aqua borders…perfect colour combinations, immaculate design, amazing symmetry. Tucked away upstairs is the Islamic Art collection, a treasure trove of classical antiquities and Islamic architecture from the Mongol, Ottoman, Byzantine, Arabic periods, including conquests all the way right up to Spain. Hours fly by…
Time permitting, continue on with selected sections of the Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) displaying excellent German art and French Impressionist pieces. Make a trip to Old Museum (Altes Museum) housing ancient Greek and Roman artefacts and the Bode Museum, with of the world’s largest numismatic collections. At the entrance of the Altes Museum, stop by the 21.7 meters circumference of giant Suppenschüssel (Berlin Soup Bowl) and peep over the rim of the world’s largest bowl made of a single piece of granite.
So what will it be for you? Madrid’s Art Triangle or Berlin’s Museum Mile? I say, grab both.
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100cobbledroads.com 
I haven’t visited Madrid or Berlin yet but I can see that there are lots of reasons why I should! You are so right in that everyone associates Paris and Florence with great art, but so many cities have amazing galleries and museums which are worth a visit!
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Also, in each country, the local art culture teaches so much about a country.
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As I haven’t been in Berlin I just marked The Pergamon Museum on my list. 🙂 I’m more into ancient cultures so that sounds very intriguing for me.
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Pergamon is the epitome of ancient. You will love it.
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I really enjoyed the museums in Madrid. The Reina Sofia is amazing. I was just in Berlin but didn’t visit the museums, only the memorial sties.
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Berlin Museums next time…hopefully?
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I had a feeling Spain would yield some amazing art. Dali is one of my favorites. That Germany and Berlin in particular would be an art center is news to me. Glad you clued me into it. I like finding those special places so many others miss. Nice post.
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Dali’s concepts and styling is so unusual. The symbolism, particularly gets you thinking.
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I went to the Prado many years ago and it has been on my mind to get back to Madrid. And Berlin? I can’t wait to get there. I have heard of Museum Island but did not realise there were 5 museums there in the “Mile!” Great info and inspiration. I agree with you – I’m going for both!
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A day at the Museum Mile is ideal for art lovers.
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This is stunning! I’m a big fan of both Dali and Picasso so Reina Sofia and Guernica would both be on my agenda. However, your photos of the Pergamom Museum are amazing and I would love to see those pieces in person!
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I’m sure you will have a memorable time in both cities admiring the art.
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Totally agree, great picks for cities to visit for those who love great art! Like Cynthia, I’m a particular fan of Dali, and always appreciate the opportunity to see his works. But above that, the architecture and beauty of the cities themselves is also wonderful to enjoy!
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Madrid and Berlin are great cities to explore for multiple reasons, and the art only adds to the appeal.
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Berlin is on my list to revisit, was there almost 2 decades ago, but now that it has such a fantastic art scene it is worth moving it up the list. Your description and photos are fantastic. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks so much for your generous comment. You will enjoy immersing in all that fabulous art.
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I’ve been to Berlin and Madrid several times but never had the chance to visit these museums, I’ll try to make time next time.
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Sounds like a plan. Would love to know how your Museum hop went 🙂
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I’m a huge sucker for great art displays in my travels – particularly in architecture and street art. These are all gorgeous finds!
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Glad you enjoyed the read..happy art hunting!
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Well, I’ve been to Berlin’s Museum Mile but not at all to Madrid. I love that you shared some of the art pieces and the artist and title of them. I wish that museum websites would share that information but find that it is seldom that they do.
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The ones I mentioned are the ones I was drawn to most. Of course, one can spend days in museums and still not get enough 🙂
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I just loved your post! I am a big fan of arts and after reading your post, I have made a mental note of visiting Berlin and Madrid for its amazing Museums.
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Good to know that we share a love for art. Thanks so much for your words of appreciation!!
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I have never been to Madrid but I would love to experience the art that you have mentioned. I went to the Picasso museum in Barcelona, but I think there is more of his work in Madrid. I also may need to head to Berlin after reading this! So informative!
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The Picasso section was spectacular. If you’re a fan, you would love the Madrid museum trip.
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You are absolutely right – most people associate Florence and Paris with great art but there are so many cities that have a lot to offer when it comes to art. Berlin and Madrid are two of those that don’t get a lot of recognition in this field 🙂
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Yes, art lovers can have a field day in both these cities.
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As an archaeologist who also studied art history, I’ve spent most of my life in museums. The Louvre and the British Museum are my favorites, by the 3 museums in Madrid are awesome too. The Reina Sofia was quite unexpected, and Thyssen has so many gems! Berlin’s museums are also wonderful. I can’t wait to return to explore them in depth.
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It was wonderful to know your background. Archeology and art history are such fascinating subjects. I am sure your travels are so much richer because of what you have studied 🙂
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Thank you for sharing, sadly art is not on everyone’s radar and this post really does a beautiful job of pointing on how to celebrate art and most importantly history. Looking forward to visiting all of these during my next travels!
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Thanks so much for your words of appreciation. Comments like these making blogging worthwhile. 🙂
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The ancient Egyptian art at the Egyptian Museum and the Pergamon Museum both look stunning! I will be sure to check out both if I ever find myself in Berlin!
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Both my fave stops museum stops in Berlin.
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I like the European art because it tells the stories of what is life during their era. It makes me think of many changes and things and realized those we should be grateful for.
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I couldn’t agree more. Art is a great teacher.
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Awesome list, I’ll definitely bookmark this for my next adventure to Europe!
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Thanks so much, Christopher. Glad you stopped by.
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I love checking out arts and museums when visiting cities Europe (have to admit, I have soft heart for those in London and Paris). |Fantastic list here and art I find is a great way to express oneself and to educate.
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Thanks Danik. I know many people steer clear of museums while travelling, but museums always adds an extra edge to our trips.
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I am not an art person. But on a serious note loved your post.
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Thanks for stopping by
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