MANY of Spain's most famous museums will be free of charge to enter tomorrow (Thursday) for the October 12 national holiday, potentially saving tourists and day-trippers a fortune.
As always, Madrid's 'big three' art galleries – the Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Reina Sofía and the El Prado – will be free tomorrow, saving visitors around €8 per head per museum, although in practice it is difficult to take in more than one of these in a day as they are so spectacular and huge.
They will be open for extended hours to allow tourists to get the best out of their free ticket, which will also give them the chance to admire these museums' temporary exhibitions along with their usual famous collections.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza is currently housing the exhibition Sonia Delaunay. Art, design and fashion, whilst the Reina Sofía – home to Picasso's iconic Guernika painting and Dalí's melting clock – has temporary collections on display by Doris Salcedo, David Bestué, Mário Pedrosa, Soledad Lorenzo, as well as the NSK del Kapital al Capital. Neue Slowenische Kunst ('New Slovenian Art') exhibition.
Other State-run museums – 13 in total in addition to the three main ones in Madrid – will be free to enter, including the National Sub-Aquatic Archaeology Museum in Cartagena (Murcia), the National González Martí Ceramic and Sumptuous Art Museum in Valencia, based in the iconic and intricately-decorated palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas, plus Madrid's National Anthropology Museum and the Sorolla Museum, dedicated to the watercolour landscapes of Valencia-born 19th-century painter Joaquín Sorolla.
The National Library in Madrid will open to the public its General Reading Hall – the heart of the institution normally reserved exclusively for members and researchers - from 10.00 to 14.00.
Many smaller council-owned museums may be free to enter tomorrow or operate extended opening times, details of which will typically be provided in tourist information offices or on their websites.
