Prado Museum, Madrid

Considered to be an important landmark in Madrid's rich art history, the Museo Nacional del Prado exhibits paintings by Goya, Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Ribera, Titian, Boticelli, Tintoretto, El Bosco, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin and Durer. Carlos III commissioned Juan de Villanueva to design this beautiful building, which was converted into an art gallery in 1819. In July of 2005, the Council of Ministers approved an expansion plan which increased the museum's total space by 50 percent, and allowed for 500 more works of the permanent collection to be showcased. On October 30, 2007, the annex opened with a collection of 19th-century Spanish artwork which enabled the Prado to reclaim its glory as a crown jewel of Europe. Come for the art; stay for the architecture.