National Archaeological Museum of Spain

National Archaeological Museum
Museo Arqueológico Nacional

Museum's main facade
Established 1867
Location Madrid, Spain
Type Archaeology museum
Director Andrés Carretero Pérez
Website man.mcu.es
National Archaeological Museum
Native name
Spanish: Museo Arqueológico Nacional
Location of National Archaeological Museum in Spain
Location Madrid, Spain
Coordinates 40°25′24″N 3°41′20″W / 40.423333°N 3.688889°WCoordinates: 40°25′24″N 3°41′20″W / 40.423333°N 3.688889°W
Official name: Museo Arqueológico Nacional
Type Non-movable
Criteria Monument
Designated 1962[1]
Reference no. RI-51-0001373

The National Archaeological Museum of Spain (Spanish: Museo Arqueológico Nacional) is a museum in Madrid, Spain, which is now open after its renovations. It is located beside the Plaza de Colón (Columbus Square), sharing its building with the National Library.

The museum was founded in 1867 by a Royal Decree of Isabella II, and its purpose was to be a depository for numismatic, archaeological, ethnographical and decorative art collections compiled by the Spanish monarchs.

In 1895 all the collections were moved to the current venue, a neoclassical building projected by architect Francisco Jareño and built from 1866 to 1892. In 1968 renovation and extension works considerably increased its area.

In 2008 the museum closed for renovation. The projected completion date was 2013,[2] but the museum remained closed until April 2014.[3] The remodelled museum concentrates on a core role and releases items from the decorative arts collection.

The collection includes, among others, Pre-historic, Egyptian, Celtic, Iberian, Greek and Roman antiquities and medieval (Visigothic, Muslim and Christian) objects.

Artifacts

See also

References

  1. Database of protected buildings (movable and non-movable) of the Ministry of Culture of Spain (Spanish).
  2. "The Countdown Begins" (in Spanish). National Archaeological Museum. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  3. Official website (in Spanish), plus information from Madrid Tourist Office etc, as at November 24, 2013.

External links

Media related to Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España at Wikimedia Commons