The Most Important Museum After The Prado
It was declared Historical Artistic Monument in 1962. Valencia's Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum) is the second most important museum (after the Prado). I must tell you that, if you're planning to visit it, it's quite large and, both its extensive content and the building itself are worth visiting. However, you can choose in the map the places that interest you the most. The Gothic paintings that you can see as soon as you go in, as well as Velazquez's self portrait are a must see. The history of this museum is linked to the history of the Royal Academy of Arts of San Carlos. You will find in the cloisters archeology such as tombstones, a number of stone and bronze figures, some mosaics, sarcophaguses and works done in marble and ceramics. The main sculptures are the ones done by the great artist from Valencia, Mariano Benlliure. The museum also has a number of paintings by Rembrandt, El Bosco, Sorolla, Mengs, Ribalta, Goya, Van Dyck and Velazquez. At the beginning of 2007, the blue Patio del Palacio del Embajador Vich (patio of the palace of the Embassador Vich) was installed inside the museum, a beautiful and ancient architectonic complex of the Renaissance. This place also has, as a dependent museum, the Centro del Carmen, a beautiful building that hosts interesting exhibits.
Buses: Lines 1, 6, 11, 16, 26, 28, 29, 36, 79, and 95. Subway stations: Alameda and Pont de Fusta Valenbisi Station number 31 Alboraya-Flora, station number 83 General Elio- Llano del Real and station number 5 Plaza Poeta Lloretne. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10:00 to 20:00. It is closed on Mondays and January 1st, Holy Friday and the 25th of December. Free entrance.