Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum began as a private endeavor by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza in the 1920s. Originally housed in Lugano, Switzerland, the collection grew rapidly to include masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Heinrich’s son, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, expanded the collection even further, incorporating modern movements like Impressionism and German Expressionism that his father had initially avoided. In the late 1980s, the collection outgrew its Swiss home, leading to a worldwide search for a new location. Thanks to the influence of the Baron's wife, Carmen Cervera, a former Miss Spain, the collection was moved to Madrid in 1992. The Spanish government leased the Villahermosa Palace, a stunning neoclassical building, to house the artworks. Just one year later, the state officially purchased the collection for 350 million dollars, securing its place as a cornerstone of Spanish culture. Today, the museum serves as the vital link in Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art. While the Prado focuses on classical Spanish and European masters and the Reina Sofía on contemporary works, the Thyssen offers a comprehensive survey of Western art. It provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see the evolution of styles across eight centuries, featuring iconic artists such as Van Eyck, Caravaggio, Monet, and Degas within a single, intimate setting.