The Reina Sofia Museum, officially known as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, is located in the heart of Madrid, Spain. It is named after the former Queen Sofia and is dedicated to showcasing Spanish art from the 20th century onwards. The museum was officially inaugurated on September 10, 1992, and it has since become a prominent landmark and cultural hub in Madrid. The building that houses the Reina Sofia Museum has a rich history of its own. It was originally built in the 18th century as a hospital, known as the San Carlos Hospital. In 1986, a decision was made to convert the hospital into a museum, and the architect Antonio Fernández Alba was tasked with the renovation. The exterior of the museum maintains the neoclassical style of the original hospital with its stately, ornate white facade. However, it also features modern elements like the two glass and steel elevators added to the exterior, which have become iconic symbols of the museum. Inside, the museum spans four floors and boasts over 20,000 works. The interior design is a blend of the traditional and the modern, with wide, airy spaces, white walls, and sleek, minimalist design elements that allow the art to take center stage. The museum's collection includes masterpieces from world-renowned Spanish artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. One of its most famous pieces is Picasso's "Guernica," a powerful depiction of the horrors of war. The Reina Sofia Museum is not just a place to view art, but also a space for education and public participation. It hosts a variety of programs and activities, including workshops, lectures, film screenings, and performance art. It also boasts a library specializing in art, with over 100,000 books, 3,500 sound recordings, and almost 1,000 videos. Interesting facts about the museum are that it is one of the largest museums in Spain, attracting over 3.5 million visitors annually. Furthermore, in 2005, a major extension was added to the museum designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, which added 27,000 square meters of space, giving room for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, and more. Today, the Reina Sofia Museum stands as a testament to Spain's rich artistic heritage and a beacon of contemporary art. It continues to inspire and provoke thought through its comprehensive collections and dynamic programs.