Spanish Museums Reopen with New Safety Measures and Curatorial Innovations

Starting in late May, Spanish museums will begin to reopen in accordance with health protocols. The Prado Museum in Madrid is set to welcome visitors again on June 6 with a temporary exhibition titled 'Reencuentro,' featuring 250 masterpieces. Director Miguel Falomir emphasizes a distinctive experience with limited access to rooms and a chronological layout. To maintain social distancing, a cap of 1,800 visitors per day will be enforced. Notable changes include Charles V's bronze statue displayed without armor and the repositioning of significant works such as Goya's 'El Dos' and 'El Tres de Mayo.' For the first time since 1929, Velázquez's pieces will be gathered in Room 12. Other museums like Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Guggenheim Bilbao will also reopen, offering reduced entry fees and free admission to state-run institutions until July 31. Standard restrictions, including mandatory masks and timed entries, will be in place.