Cerralbo Museum

"The Marquis of Cerralbo lived in this palace in the 19th and 20th centuries and designed everything from the staircase to the displays, to the gardens he sketched out himself. Today his absolutely over-the-top vision (he always hoped it would become a museum) remains faithfully intact complete with his collection of masterpieces by Spanish greats like El Greco and Zúrbaran, early photography, and Japanese armor from the Edo period."

"While not a guided tour, this discounted pass gives you access to five art museums that might otherwise not initially catch your attention. These include the Museum of Romanticism, the Sorolla Museum, the National Museum of Decorative Arts, the Cerralbo Museum, and the Lázaro Galdiano Museum. For only 12 euros, you have ten days to visit each of these museums. Start with the Sorolla Museum, once the Valencian artist’s family home, where his numerous vibrant landscape paintings detail colorful beach scenes from the Mediterranean. At the National Museum of Decorative Arts, everything from silverware and porcelain to musical instruments and antique fans are on display. When you tire of gilt-framed portraits and paintings, it offers an alternative view of Spanish history." - Ramsey Qubein

"What’s the big picture here? While not a guided tour, this discounted pass gives you access to five art museums that might otherwise not initially catch your attention. These include the Museum of Romanticism, the Sorolla Museum , the National Museum of Decorative Arts, the Cerralbo Museum, and the Lázaro Galdiano Museum. For only 12 euros, you have ten days to visit each of these museums. There’s no strict schedule; visit all in one day, or spread them out according to your own plans. You can purchase the package at any ticket office of the five museums (or online). Who gets these passes? Visitors to these museums have seen the big stuff and are looking to dig deeper. If this is your first time to Madrid, it’s better to spend your time at the Royal Palace or among the famous Golden Triangle of art museums. It takes time to get to all five of these smaller museums because they are spread across the city. How are the guides? Each museum offers the opportunity to hire your own guide but you can also go it alone depending upon your level of interest. Anything you’ll be remembering weeks or months or years from now? There's a lot to explore. Start with the Sorolla Museum, once the Valencian artist’s family home, where his numerous vibrant landscape paintings detail colorful beach scenes from the Mediterranean. At the National Museum of Decorative Arts, everything from silverware and porcelain to musical instruments and antique fans are on display. When you tire of gilt-framed portraits and paintings, it offers an alternative view of Spanish history. So: money, time—how can we make the most of both? This tour is best for those that like to chart their own course and want the freedom to visit museums at their own pace. Those that have been to Madrid before will find this to be an excellent package to see smaller museums that don’t make it to the front page of every guide book. Locals, too, will appreciate this museum pass, especially because each museum offers a number of rotating exhibitions." - Ramsey Qubein