Spain is home to an intricate network of museums, celebrating the country’s contribution to artistic, architectural and scientific Spanish and European culture.  With over 800 museums which have been developed since the early 16th Century, when the country’s economic affluence was invested into collection and development of European art, Spain’s historic culture is indeed preserved within its abundance of museums. 
 
The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
 
Resting on the edge of the Nervión River sits the Guggenheim Museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry and built in 1997.  This innovatively shaped building is home to a considerable collection of artwork ranging from the mid-20th Century to the present day, with a particular concentration on sculptures and installations.  The visitor-centred Guggenheim Museum strives to collect, preserve and research modern art, in all of its forms, over the 11,000 square metres and nineteen galleries which constitute this iconic museum.
 
The Picasso Museum, Barcelona
 
Celebrating the life and work of Pablo Picasso, who lived in Barcelona during his youth, the Picasso Museum is an impressive collection of 4,251 works by the young artist.  Barcelona’s Picasso Museum commemorates Picasso’s earliest artwork, which eventually led to his iconic Cubist movement, and explores his personal relationship with the city where he developed and refined his skills as an artist, particularly through his attendance at the prestigious La Lonja art academy, where his father was a professor. 
 
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
 
Critically acclaimed as being one of the world’s most important private art collections, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid celebrates the history of Western art, ranging from 17th Century Flemish and Italian painters, to 20th Century Pop Art.   The museum is located within a 19th Century Neo-Classical mansion and chronologically spaced descending over three floors, so its recommended that visitors start their visit on the top floor, and work their way down to the contemporary art located on the ground floor.  
 
Museum of Fine Arts, Seville
 
Set in the restored 17th Century Merced Calzada Convent, the Museum of Fine Arts is an impressive collection of Spanish artwork and sculptures, ranging from the Gothic period to the modern era.  Displaying works from iconic painters and sculptures such as Diego Velázquez, the Museum of Fine Arts is regarded for its impressive collection of religious art set within an iconic spiritual façade with three patios decorated with flowers, plants and the classic Seville tile work.
 
The Natural Science Museum, Valencia
 
Whilst many of Spain’s museums showcase the impressive history of the country’s artistic prowess, The Natural Science Museum has an incredible collection of fossils, bones and animations which question the origins of the universe.  This educational museum considers over 4,000 million years of Earth’s evolutionary change, through collaborating research and discoveries from around the world.  The museum celebrates the Valencian contribution to the Natural Sciences, and Science’s influence on its culture from the Renaissance to the 20th Century.  

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