5 Things to Do in the Prado Without Ever Looking at a Painting… Well, Sort Of
Let’s be honest… who would actually go to an art museum and not look at art?
So museums are great and all, but sometimes you have to get a little bit creative with how you approach your museum visit. I’ll be completely honest, one day I tried to spend an entire hour in the Prado without looking at a piece of art. . . And I failed. I guess that shouldn’t really be too shocking; they’ve just got too much good stuff in there! Plus, there’s art everywhere! Does it count if it was printed on something in the gift shop?
All that aside, I thought it would be fun to write something a little different from what I normally post. This also pushed me to think a little bit differently about the museum experience and discover more of what the Prado has to offer. Now, I’m not necessarily encouraging you to spend your time in the Prado without looking at any art (That would be absurd!), but if you’re wondering what else there is to do in a museum like the Prado besides look at art. . . well, I guess you’re in the right place.
1) Treat Yo’ Self
I mean that very literally. Who doesn’t get hungry when they’re in museums? I definitely do, especially if I’m in there for more than three hours at a time. . . which is usually the case if it’s a larger museum like the Prado. Thanks to the Prado Café, you can satisfy your hunger (or just your sweet tooth) without ever having to leave the museum.
The place is littered with tiny cafés in very convenient places; so have a seat, get yourself a yummy treat, and just relax and take it all in. They also have a full-on cafeteria and restaurant that offers meals and such. So if you’re wanting more than just a snack, that’s the place for you! To whoever decided it was a good idea to put a restaurant in museums. . . let’s just say, thank you.
2) Hit Up the Gift Shop
Museum gift shops are seriously some of my favorite places! I absolutely love them! I’m sure this was most likely on your list of things to do anyway, so definitely do it. I mean, who doesn’t want their favorite painting on a notebook, a tee-shirt, or a pair of socks? And who doesn’t love those completely random novelties that don’t really have much to do with the museum’s collection but you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else?
I can seriously spend forever in museum gift shops. Apart from all the cool merchandise with gorgeous art on it, they also seem to have the coolest books. The Prado is no exception. I have a running list of all the books that I want to buy from their gift shop but can’t afford to.
Want to learn more about medieval art? They’ve got a book for that. Want to brush up on your religious iconography? They’ve got a book for that. Or maybe you want to learn how to draw and paint? Oh, wait. . . They’ve got a book for that too! And if you’re wondering how to teach your kids about art, please check out all the amazing books they have in their children’s section. I am nowhere near having kids, but those books are on my list too.
3) Bask in the Glory of the Jerónimos Cloister
The Jerónimos Cloister is seriously one of my preferred places in the museum! The space is lovely. It’s so open and bright, with lots of windows and natural light, and it’s an enjoyable place just to sit and relax. If there were more comfortable chairs, it would be a perfect place to spend an hour or two reading.
The area is technically a sculpture gallery, so you will actually see art there. However, it blends very nicely with the aesthetic of the space, so it doesn’t feel very much like the other galleries of the museum. My coworker told me it is also a place she likes to bring people just to chat, so I guess it’s really good for that too. Not to mention, there are hardly ever many people up there.
Aside from the fact that the space itself is just spectacular, I also really like going up there because you can get a tiny view of all the conservation and restoration labs in the Prado. Those labs are where all the magic happens! If you just look up, you can catch a glimpse of some of the paintings and sculptures they’re working on. And if you’re fortunate, you might even be able to see one of the conservators at work.
4) Check Out the Prado’s Art Library
Did you even know the Prado had a library? Well, now you do! In fact, it is one of the best art libraries in Spain. If you’re into books and you like learning about art, then I think you’d have a pretty good time there. While the library is primarily intended for scholars conducting research on the history of art, it is also open to the public. To know the rules for how to use it and when you can visit, take a look at their page on the Prado’s website.
The library isn’t located in the main building of the museum but instead in the Casón del Buen Retiro, which is part of the Prado’s campus. If you walk past the Goya entrance of the museum (heading uphill) and continue up the street, then you’ll walk right into the Casón. And I guess as far as libraries go, this one is also cheating a little when it comes to not looking at art. No, I’m not talking about the art you’ll likely see in all the books. All you have to do is look up, and you’ll see the amazing ceiling painting of The Allegory of the Golden Fleece by Luca Giordano.
5) Enjoy the Beautiful Weather on the Museum Grounds
I swear, I’ve been in Madrid for three months now, and I can think of only two occasions that there was a day when it wasn’t sunny. So if you’ve spent as much time as you can inside the museum, then take a few minutes to appreciate the exterior as well. At the moment, most of the museum’s grand facade is actually covered up while they restore it, but don’t let that stop you.
The museum is surrounded by wonderful grassy areas to sit (or even take a nap, as I have witnessed many people do) and lots of benches too if you prefer not to sit on the ground. There are also plenty of tall trees that provide excellent shade when it gets just a little too hot, and on the south side of the building, you’ll find a mini garden area and a couple of decorative fountains to admire.
It really is pleasant just to sit outside the museum and take in the surroundings for a while. You might even have a beautiful soundtrack to back your thoughts because there is typically a busker who strums Spanish guitar in the afternoons on the walk leading up to the Jerónimos entrance. If he’s not there, then just listen to the chirping of the cute, little, bright green birds that live in the trees. They are seriously adorable and look like larger versions of parakeets. I’m not completely sure why they live on the grounds of the Prado, but I guess it might be because the Royal Botanical Garden is next door.
When the birds exhaust your interest, be sure to take advantage of being in one of the best places to people watch. And if you’ll be spending a full day sightseeing in Madrid, why not bring some food and have a picnic lunch break on the Prado grounds before you tackle the rest of your itinerary?
These are some examples of a few alternative ways (out of many) to enjoy your time in the Prado. . . maybe just in addition to appreciating all the art, instead of without seeing any at all. The Prado truly has so much to discover and explore, both about its collection and the museum itself. Hopefully, this leads you to look at your museum visit a bit differently and make a few discoveries of your own.
