November 2, 2011

Madrid - Day 3

Richard took a side trip with the group to El Escorial, a historical residence of the King of Spain while I hit the some more museums.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - 3 floors of art collected by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family over two generations.  Built between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, the Palace of Villahermosa is a fine example of Madrid's neoclassical architecture.  The ground floor is dedicated to 20th century paintings, from Cubism and the first decades of the Avant-garde movements to Pop Art.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia - 4 floors of art.  The fourth floor is dedicated to a temporary art exhibit of Alighiero Boetti.  As acclaim for Alighiero Boetti's art has rapidly grown in recent years so critical attention has shifted from the Arte Povera sculpture that first brought him widespread recognition in the late 1960s, to the embroideries that became the hallmark of his later career.  The embroideries are large and intricate - talk about compulsive obsessive!

Sculpture outside of Reina Sofia

"Carmen" by Calder 1974 in the inner courtyard at Reina Sofia

 
Fountain in the inner courtyard at Reina Sofia
On the walk back to the hotel, I noticed this beautiful green hanging garden covering the entire front wall of a 4 story building.

Buskers at Plaza Mayor

Rather blustery today with some rain.  We say adios to Madrid tomorrow morning and head towards the Castillian town of Toledo.


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