Art Treasures in Madrid

This tour explores some of Spain’s richest artistic treasures, with works that define both the country’s history and its imagination. At its heart are the great collections of Madrid: the Prado’s unrivalled paintings of the Spanish Golden Age, with Velázquez, Zurbarán and Ribera seen alongside Bosch and Rubens; the personal and political masterpieces of the Reina Sofía, anchored by Picasso’s Guernica; and the wide‑ranging collection of the Thyssen‑Bornemisza, which place Spanish art within a wider European tradition. These are complemented by other quieter collections – Goya’s frescoes painted directly onto the walls of San Antonio de la Florida, and the tapestries, paintings and devotional objects preserved at Descalzas Reales and the Royal Collections Gallery. Join art expert Dr Marta Cacho Casal on this new tour in 2027.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid
Depart London Heathrow or Manchester for Madrid then transfer by coach to our hotel for a five-night stay. Free time or take a short orientation walk around Plaza Mayor. Evening welcome drink, dinner with wine and talk from your tour lecturer Marta, 'An Introduction to the Spanish Golden Age'.

Day 2: The Prado Museum and Monastery of Descalzas Reales
An early, private visit to the incomparable Museo del Prado for masterpieces by Diego Velázquez, Zurbarán, Murillo and their contemporaries. We also view later Spanish paintings, and most especially the works of Goya.  Lunch is at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the Monastery of Descalzas Reales, once a royal residence and convent, where paintings, tapestries and devotional objects remain displayed much as they were assembled by generations of Habsburg women, offering a rare glimpse of private royal collecting.

Day 3: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and Goya's frescoes
This morning’s visit to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando explores art within the academic tradition. The collection includes important works by Goya, Murillo and Zurbarán, seen within the institutional setting that shaped artistic education in Spain. After lunch, visit the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, for Goya’s frescoes of The Miracle of St Anthony. An evening talk by Marta examines the formation and history of the Prado itself, ‘The Story of the Museo del Prado’.

Day 4: Museo Reina Sofia and Thyssen‑Bornemisza Museum
Begin with a private visit to the Museo Reina Sofía, centred on Picasso’s Guernica, one of the defining works of 20th‑century art. Surrounding works by Miró, Dalí and Tàpies trace Spanish responses to exile, Surrealism and post‑war abstraction. After lunch, continue to the Thyssen‑Bornemisza Museum, for its rich collection of Spanish and European paintings from the Renaissance modern period.

Day 5: Royal Collections Gallery and Lázaro Galdiano Museum
The morning is devoted to the Royal Collections Gallery, where tapestries, paintings and decorative arts reveal centuries of royal patronage, including works by Titian, Velázquez and Goya. Continue to the Almudena Cathedral, with time to enjoy views from the dome. In the afternoon, visit the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, a former private residence housing a richly eclectic collection of paintings, sculpture and objets d’art gathered by one of Spain’s great collectors. Farewell dinner with wine.

Day 6: Departure
Free time in Madrid before the transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 23 travellers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the amount of time spent walking and standing for viewing at attractions. For further information, please visit the mobility page on our website, or call our team if you have any questions prior to booking. 

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Madrid
• Five nights’ accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at the five-star NH Collection Palacio de Tepa, Madrid, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• 2 dinners
• All tours and entrance fees as detailed
• Airport transfers and full coach touring itinerary
• Accompanied by an expert tour lecturer throughout
• Tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - from £790
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

NH Collection Palacio de Tepa, Madrid

This five-star boutique hotel in central Madrid, combines historic architecture with modern luxury. A restored 19th‑century palace located in Madrid’s vibrant Barrio de las Letras, the hotel is just a short stroll from landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Puerta del Sol. The hotel facilities include a bar, garden, restaurant, and spa and fitness centre. The comfortable bedrooms offer TV, WIFI, safe, hairdryer, toiletries, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Hotel Website