National Museum Center of art Reina Sofia is devoted to contemporary art and, together with the Prado Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is included in the famous "Golden triangle of art" in Madrid.

The Museum was founded in 1986 and originally it was exhibition centre for sculpture exhibitions. The formal opening of the Royal couple took place in 1992. The Museum occupies the building that formerly housed the hospital of San Carlos. This building was built in the 18th century by the famous Spanish architect Francisco Sabatini, in the late 20th century it was reconstructed several times for the purpose of adaptation of premises for the Museum collections here.

Today, art funds, art Centre Reina sofía occupy an area of just over 12, 5 thousand sq. m.

Royal decree, published in may 1988, awarded the Reina Sofia National Museum. The same decree defined the main thrust of the Museum – there were supposed to exhibit predominantly the works of Spanish and relevant to the Spanish masters, and most of the collections had to borrow works of art of the 20th century. All the activities of the Museum can be divided into three areas: the permanent exhibition of the collections, research and organization of temporary exhibitions.

The Museum is well equipped with technically – special computers monitor temperature, humidity and lighting, because the fabric must be stored in certain conditions.

The Museum features the works of such famous artists as Pablo Picasso, Joan miró, Salvador Dalí, Julio Gonzalez, Maria Blanchard, Juan Gris, Antoni tàpies, Pablo Sarani, Ribera, Lucio Muniesa, and many others.