Reina Sofia Museum

A vast 18th-century hospital is now the stylish and ultra modern setting for Spain's most important collection of contemporary art. Displays start from the beginning of the 20th century with work by Spanish artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Eduardo Chillida and Miquel Barcelo. International names include Donald Judd, Gerhard Richter and Francis Bacon. The reorganisation of the permanent collection was completed at the end of 2010, and the 2nd floor now charts developments from 1900-1945, while the 4th floor is devoted to 1945-1968. On the 2nd floor, there is invariably a crowd around Picasso’s astounding masterpiece, 'Guernica', which he painted in reaction to the bombing of the Basque town of that name during Spain's Civil War. The new - and very red - extension by Jean Nouvel houses a restaurant run by leading chef Sergi Arola. There are always a few temporary exhibitions on too, which you can see without visiting the main collection if you don't have time to do the whole thing.