MADRID'S famous Reina Sofía art gallery will put up its ticket prices from €8 to €10 from Tuesday, September 5, its management has just announced.
This is the second price increase in four years – back in 2013, entry cost just €6.
But as with the other art museums that form Madrid's 'big three' – El Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza – a visit to the Reina Sofía is easily half a day or more out of the average tourist's visit, and the ticket price covers entry to all areas, including temporary exhibitions.
It is an essential destination for anyone keen to view some of Spain's best-known works of art 'in the flesh' – Dalí's 'melting clock' and My mother, my mother, my mother are on display, and an entire hall is dedicated to Picasso's disturbing epic, Guernika, his surrealist depiction of the Civil War bombing of the Basque town of the same name which takes up a whole wall, and includes a short documentary film and all the artist's preparatory sketches.
The Reina Sofía says it has had to up its prices to be able to maintain its premises and collections, continue with its peripheral public activities, and continue to improve its customer service.
New tariffs also include a two-day pass for €15, allowing tourists to split their visit rather than rushing round to try to get their money's worth in one hit, and also reduced prices for tour operators visiting between 09.00 and 10.00, plus discounted rates for booking tickets online 'in keeping with social realities of the 21st century'.
The four days a year when entry is free will remain – April 18, International Monuments and Tourist Attractions Day; May 18, International Museums Day; October 12, Spain's National Bank Holiday, recently renamed from 'Hispanic Day' since its marking Columbus' discovery of the Americas was considered to be a homage to the violence of colonialism, and December 6, National Constitution Day.
October 12 and December 6 are public holidays everywhere in Spain.
Also, entry remains free of charge on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday from 19.00.
Sunday visits, which were free of charge from 15.00, are now free from 13.30, given that weekend tourists in the city often need to return home late afternoon on Sunday to be able to go to work on Monday.
