Museum of the Americas

The Museo de América is a national museum in Madrid focused on the art, archaeology and ethnography of the American continents; it was established in 1941. The collection spans pre-Columbian cultures, colonial-era objects and later ethnographic material.

Galleries present large archaeological pieces, painted colonial altarpieces and textile and metalwork collections from North, Central and South America. Exhibition rooms typically group objects by region and theme so visitors can see artifacts from Mesoamerica, the Andes and the Amazon in sequences of several dozen items.

The museum was created as a national collection under Spanish institutions and later assembled into a purpose-built public display venue. Over time the holdings have grown through acquisitions, donations and archaeological transfers.

Located in Madrid within the Community of Madrid, the museum sits northwest of the historic centre in the Ciudad Universitaria/Moncloa area of the city. It is accessible by public transport from central Madrid.

• Visiting tip: Timed-entry and quieter galleries are typical on weekday mornings; the museum is less crowded than central Madrid attractions.
• Accessibility: Several rooms include original colonial religious art and large pre-Columbian stone sculptures that require ground-floor access.

What to See #

• Main collections: Contains major chronological and thematic galleries covering pre-Columbian archaeology, colonial-era art and religious objects, and ethnographic collections from North, Central and South America.
• Ethnographic and archaeological displays: Holds a permanent display of textiles, ceramics and metalwork representative of Andean, Mesoamerican and Amazonian traditions.
• Temporary exhibitions and education: Maintains an educational program with temporary exhibitions and specialist displays drawn from its holdings.