The museum got its beginning when the Spanish government offered to purchase that collection in 1993 for $350 million and converted the late 18th century Villahermosa Palace into the present site to house it. The family, overflowing with paintings in a Swiss villa near Lugano, Switzerland, took the offer and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza was the result. The museum renovation added another $45 million to the total price.

Though the price may seem high, in the eyes (and calculators) of most art experts the total is worth somewhere between $1 billion and $3 billion. Given that the collection consists of over 700 of some of the best paintings in the world that, as they say, is a steal.

Among the works are paintings by Canaletto and Caravaggio, El Greco and Goya, Rembrandt and Hals, Velázquez, Dürer, Watteau and dozens of other masters. There are works that range in style from Picasso to Sargent, Kirchner to Kandinsky. American artists are well represented including Homer and Hopper, and several moderns.

As recently as 2004 the collection acquired new exhibition space by expanding into the former Palace of Goyeneche on nearby Marqués de Cubas street. In the new space there are sculptures by Rodin, examples of German Impressionism, as well as works ranging from 17th century Italian and Flemish to 19th century American landscapes.

One of Holbein’s many Portrait of Henry VIII samples is in the museum along with Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington’s cook. Pissarro’s Saint-Honore Street in the Afternoon is not far from Renoir’s Woman With A Parasol. Picasso’s Harlequin With a Mirror is near Dali’s Dream Caused By The Flight of a Bee. There are lesser known examples of Wyeth and O’Keefe down the hall from German Expressionists.

Though there are paintings from the 13th to the 20th centuries, the works are well laid out in spacious surroundings. They follow a chronological order and visitors will find it easy to zero in on the period that most interests them.

The formerly private collection was considered second only to that of the British monarchy which is only nominally private, since it ‘belongs’ to the British people. It came to the museum largely by the efforts of Baron Thyssen’s wife Carmen Cervera. Another 100 works from the collection are housed in Barcelona.

The results of her efforts, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, with its sleek marble floors and salmon colored walls is a show place of extraordinary beauty. With 86,000 square feet of exhibition space in the new addition alone, art lovers will want to alot ample time to see the collection and its stunning homes.

Surrounded by beautiful botanical gardens, visitors have the opportunity to spend hours enjoying this early 19th century site and its contents. The museum was completed in 1819 and the bulk of the early collection was drawn from paintings gathered by Spanish nobility.

It’s expected that the recent disagreements over the new wing under construction will be resolved soon and it will completed not long after. If that happens, art lovers will be able to add to the list of works worth seeing those long held in storage. Zurbarán, Pereda and many more in the vault will considerably expand the works on display.

But those available now make the Prado well worth a day-long stroll. Apart from the aforementioned Spanish masters, there are numerous works by the Flemish, Dutch, German, French, and Italians. Many of these were acquired by conquest from the time that Spain was one of the leading powers of Europe.

But however they were collected, the works themselves remain timeless examples of what artists in any era can achieve.

Walk through the ‘Goya entrance’, on the ground floor at the start of your journey and pause to enjoy the masterpiece of Fra Angelico, La Anunciación a la Virgen María. Not far away are some other excellent Italian works – by Botticelli, Mantegna, del Sarto and Corregio. Don’t miss Titian’s Venus.

Carry on to see a number of works by Bosch, possibly the world’s first surrealist. There’s the Garden of Earthly Delights, the Seven Deadly Sins, and others. Centuries ahead of his time, these 16th century paintings are the product of what can at least be called a ‘vivid imagination’.

On the second floor are several 17th century Flemish, including works by Rubens and van Dyck. Rubens’ Garden of Love and Three Graces are on display. Nearby are some works by the famed mid-17th century Seville painter Murillo. His three Immaculate Conceptions are among the highlights of the collection.

But unquestionably the star attractions are the major Spanish masters, particularly Goya and El Greco. It is these works that draw the most traffic.

El Greco, though born in Crete (hence the name), lived much of his life in Toledo, Spain. There he produced his John the Baptist, The Adoration of the Shepherds, The Resurrection and others in his distinctive style.

Works of Goya, too, are numerous and display the full range of styles he used over the years. Those painted later in life form some of his most striking. Saturn Devouring One of His Sons is perhaps the most representative of this period. Of course, Goya’s clothed Maja and Naked Maja both continue to draw visitors year after year.

The Museo del Prado is proudly offered as one of Madrid’s most highly sought out tourist destinations. When you visit that magnificent city, be sure to see for yourself why that is so.

Tenerife is one of the most appealing tourist destinations and offers a huge range of resorts, hotels and accommodation options. Tenerife is surrounded by sub tropical waters and with a climate to match diving in Tenerife is possible all year round. Tenerife is dominated by the mountains that divide the island into the south and north.

The island enjoys warm sunny winters and long hot summer days so for golf holidays Tenerife is the perfect all year round destination. Tenerife is a diverse island, from the south with the best of the Islands beaches and nightlife, to the north providing sophistication and great scenery.

Founded by the daughter of Charles V in 1559 as a retreat for noblewomen, the nunnery has maintained its commitment to its religious principles for centuries. Tours of the grounds and artifacts housed there began in the last few decades.

Once a royal palace, women of the Spanish aristocracy wandered its hallways in quiet. For over 200 years the grounds, which gradually became a fully recognized and practicing convent, were restricted to outsiders. The occupants within found not only an environment for religious contemplation but also a private art museum.

The buildings themselves are outstanding samples of Renaissance architecture. The orange stone facade is elegant, punctuated by several archways and the doors are splendid examples of the period.

The collection grew gradually as the noblewomen who wished to take up the religious life each brought a ‘dowry’ to be a ‘bride of Christ’.

Today those art treasures are available for viewing by the public. There are paintings by Titian, Zurbarán and Brueghel the Elder along with many others. There are magnificent tapestries hand-woven and based on drawings by Rubens. There is even a marble mausoleum crafted by Leoni, a sculpted sepulchre of Emperatriz María executed by Crescenci and several Mena sculptures.

The Franciscan nuns opened the grounds to the public in 1960 and conduct the tours, which is the only way visitors are permitted to see the collection. Though tours are conducted in Spanish, questions in English are permitted and will be answered in English. However, there is so much that is worthwhile to see that even those not conversant in Spanish will find the tours a delight.

Next door is the Convento de la Encarnación, which is also worth a visit.

Any trip to Madrid will reward the visitor with first-rate bullfights or soccer, shopping third in Europe only to London and Paris, art museums that are second to none and parks as good as those in New York’s Manhattan. In short, be prepared to spend some time here so you would definitely want to make use of Car Hire Madrid to get around.

Art lovers will want to visit the Prado, to be sure. But there is the equally outstanding Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, a recent addition to the city’s offerings. Founded by the wealthy industrial family’s Baron Thyssen and his wife, a former Miss Spain, it houses over 700 of Europe’s treasures from the 13th-20th centuries. For those who want something more modern, the Queen Sofia houses enough 20th century art to satisfy fans of New York’s MoMA (Museum of Modern Art).

But there’s much more to see and do than stroll around art museums. For a lovely walk in Madrid’s warm sunshine, you’ll want to visit the Parque del Buen Retiro. Though only about a third the size of Manhattan’s Central Park, and much smaller than London’s Hyde Park, it is second to none in beauty. Besides the lovely grounds there are lakes, sculpture and the Crystal Palace to see and enjoy.

While you’re thinking about London, visit the Basilica de San Francisco El Grande. With a dome larger than St. Paul’s Cathedral, and almost as much art as St. Peter’s in Rome, you won’t be disappointed.

For more outside pleasures there are several other major options. The Puerta del Sol is the geographical and civic center of Madrid and all of Spain. The paving slab marked Km 0 is the literal beginning for the country’s six major highways, radiating outward from there.

Plaza Mayor is not far away. Visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the dozens of cafes or restaurants or just sit in the shade and watch the people go by. The square, nearly 100m on each side, is surrounded by buildings that have seen everything from bullfights to beheadings.

Don’t miss seeing the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace, either. Long the home of Spain’s monarchs, it still contains the throne room, the Royal Armory and the Royal Pharmacy. You can stand in some of its 2,800 rooms and imagine what it must have been like to rule half the world from there. That’s easy to do when you see El Cid’s sword, or the hundreds of jewels, porcelain vases and other objects on display.

But leave some time for shopping. Anything from the El Corte Inglés department store to the El Rastro flea market will have you knee deep in choices. Gran Via is Madrid’s most well known avenue for shopping but there are dozens of others: Calle Alcala, Calle Montera, Calle Princesa… the list is endless. Whether you want a fine antique, a new pair of elegant shoes or some of Europe’s best fashion, you’ll find it in one of Madrid’s boutiques.

It may not take you 400 years (the time it has been Spain’s capital) to see all that Madrid has to offer, but be prepared to spend some time here.

Tenerife is known as the (island of eternal spring) this is because of its equilibrated climate and abundant vegetation in the north part of the island. Tenerife is changing into a new breed of long-term holiday destination or retirement leisure location for the Europeans and fellow notherneurope sunseeker. According to Travel Counsellors, Tenerife is the top destination for Britons this Christmas, replacing Barbados which was number one in 2004 and 2003.

Because of the growing importance of Spanish in the busiess world, the demand for practical commercial Spanish courses is growing. The minimum age for most Spanish Courses is 16, with parent permission required for anyone aged 18 or under. One of our main goals apart from teaching Spanish courses is to involve students in the Spanish culture. The main problem with most Spanish courses is that the lessons are so boring that you give up early and quit, without learning much of anything. This makes it very important that you select the most suitable course, which will be both entertaining and a great learning experience.

The facade alone is worth spending time viewing. Neoclassical, and an excellent version it is, the building is near the Plaza de Colón. There are three entrance archways and the best way to view the building is to walk straight forward then look up. The scale is impressive.

From that vantage point you can admire the elaborate wrought-iron gates and the exterior of the upper gallery. You can plainly see the elaborate carvings festooning the Corinthian columns. On either side you’ll be treated to fine statues along the main staircase, one of Alfonso X and the other of San Isidoro. Alongside the main doors there are images of many of Spain’s justly-famous writers, such as Cervantes and de Leon.

Constructed during the 19th century under the auspices of Isabel II, the library contains more than five million books. Not the largest repository in the world by any means, but unquestionably the finest collection of Spanish volumes anywhere.

The collection grew out of a nucleus formed from the royal library of Phillip V, founded in 1712. In some cases bought, in others simply seized in typical aristocratic fashion, the books cover every conceivable subject having to do with Spain’s culture and history.

It is now regarded as the National Library of Spain and the centerpiece of a system that has branches all over the country. Among the millions of items are 30,000 manuscripts and 500,000 books printed before 1831, not to mention a newspaper collection of nearly 20,000 editions.

Along with the books and manuscripts, there are engravings and drawings that can be found nowhere else on the planet. There are almost two million photographs and 134,000 maps in the collection.

But even if the contents are of little interest, just walking around the structure is a pleasure for lovers of architecture. Like much of Spain today, it is a fascinating combination of modern and traditional inside and out. Walk along the halls and just imagine meeting one of the many royal patrons who have taken advantage of what is stored there.

Apart from the regular contents the Biblioteca often sponsors exhibitions such as drawings by Rembrandt and other masters. You can check the schedule here: http://www.bne.es/index_eng.html

Admission is free and the library is open year round.

Located in an older part of Madrid, the church has an imposing edifice in three sections with neo-classical facades. Inside, visitors can see the imposing 108 foot (33m) dome and the barrel vaulted ceiling. Covered in a dazzling array of frescoes and with extraordinary stained-glass windows, the basilica is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe.

Completed in 1760 under the auspices of Carlos III, the basilica was erected on the site of a Franciscan convent, purportedly founded in 1217 by St. Francis of Assisi. There are seven main doors elaborately carved out of walnut, leading to several chapels filled with art treasures.

Three of them are adjacent to the circular interior, one of which – the San Bernardino de Siena – holds a Goya painting depicting the saint. To the right of that Goya is another painting, a self-portrait of the artist himself.

Though the church was built in the mid-18th century, many of the contents are considerably older like for example, the Gothic choir stalls from Segovia, dating from the 16th century.

Within the chapels are dozens of paintings and sculptures by major and minor masters. Besides Goya, the church houses paintings by Zurbarán, Cano and Maella as well as marble sculptures by Bellver and Benlliure.

The church, though, is not merely an art museum, but a functioning cathedral. Visitors are shown through by a guide and are requested to maintain a respectful silence.

Located in the Plaza de San Francisco el Grande, there is a nearby Metro stop at La Latina or Puerta del Toledo and several buses have stops at or near the church.