Madrid - Queen Sofia Art Centre Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

Opened by Queen Sofía in 1986, the Centro de Arte de Reina Sofía, in the former San Carlos Hospital on the Plaza Atocha, is Madrid's newest center for contemporary art.

The complex of buildings, which from the outside seems of massive proportions, was designed as a hospital in the 18th C. by the architect of the royal palace, the Italian Francesco Sabatini, and the Spaniard José de Hermosilla.

The building was used as a hospital until 1965, after which it stood empty until 1977. It was in danger of being pulled down until someone had the idea of using the vast premises for the display of contemporary art. Renovation of the six-storied center was begun in 1980. Under the direction of the architect Antonio Fernández Alba an artistic center was created which can stand comparison with its international counterparts, such as the Pompidou Center in Paris. The most striking feature has been the addition of three glass towers on the outside of the building to house lifts, two of them flanking the main entrance.

As well as containing about 39,000sq.m/46,650sq.yd of exhibition space in its various rooms, the center houses a bookshop, cafeteria, restaurant, library, press office and administrative offices.