National Archaeological Museum (Madrid)

The Museo Arqueológico Nacional in Madrid is Spain’s principal national archaeology museum, founded in the 19th century and housed in a late 19th century building on Calle de Serrano. It preserves and displays Spain’s archaeological heritage from prehistoric times through the medieval period.

Galleries cover Prehistory and Protohistory, Iberian and Roman periods, classical antiquities including Egyptian material, and medieval/Visigothic collections. Notable items on display include major Iberian sculptures and Visigothic goldwork; the museum also holds extensive numismatic, epigraphic and ethnographic holdings.

The museum was created in the mid 19th century as part of a national effort to collect and study archaeological finds, and its present building dates from the late 1800s. Over time the collections have grown through archaeological work and transfers from other institutions, making it a comprehensive reference for Spain’s past.

It sits in central Madrid near Plaza de Colón and the Paseo de la Castellana, within Madrid’s Salamanca/Centro area and close to other museums and cultural institutions.

• Signature objects: Home to iconic pieces such as the Iberian 'Lady of Elche' and important Visigothic votive crowns from Guarrazar, which are among the museum's headline exhibits.
• Central location: Located near Plaza de Colón on Calle de Serrano in central Madrid, the museum is within easy walking distance of the Paseo de la Castellana and other major cultural sites.

What to See #

• Prehistory and Iberian galleries: Gallery suites covering prehistory and protohistory of the Iberian Peninsula, with major artefacts illustrating Neolithic to Iron Age cultures found in the region.
• Classical and Egyptian collections: Collections of classical antiquities including Greek and Roman pieces, Egyptian artefacts and imported Mediterranean items that illustrate ancient material culture.
• Medieval and Visigothic holdings: Medieval and medieval-to-modern Spanish material culture including Visigothic treasures, numismatics and objects illustrating Iberian medieval history.