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By Karin Beuerlein

The Prado in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Javier Carro

8. The Prado Museum – Madrid, Spain
museoprado.mcu.es

This is a true museum lover's museum because it was founded out of love for art, not a desire for prestige. The Prado was established by royalty, like many great world museums, but the Spanish kings and queens had a true affection not just for art itself but for the artists who created it. A favorite old legend says that Spanish monarch Charles V once bent to pick up a paintbrush dropped by the artist Titian, thereby stooping below his level, the ultimate gesture of respect from a king.

You'll find masterpieces in The Prado from all the Spanish art VIPs: Velázquez, Ribera, El Greco and Goya among others. Check out the collection of 14 of Goya's "Black Paintings," which depict violent, macabre and raw images far ahead of their time.

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