Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

On 10th September, 1992, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, Don Juan Carlos and Doña. Sofía, inaugurated the Permanent Collection of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. What had previously been a centre for temporary exhibitions, thus became a true museum, with the task of conserving, enlarging and exhibiting its own artistic holdings. The building itself, however, dates back far in time. In 1566, during the reign of Philip II, the idea arose of having a single building for medical purposes instead of the small centres scattered around the area but it was not until thirty years later, in the reign of Philip III , that the first hostel was installed in Calle Santa Isabel. Later other centres were added and the complex so formed was named the General Hospital. In the second half of the 18th century, Carlos III commissioned the architect Francisco Sabatini to take over a hospital building project begun by Hermosilla, conceived during the reign of Fernando VI. Sabatini, however, was unable to complete the building, constructing only part of what was originally planned.

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