The National Archaeology Museum in Madrid

Visiting Hours

Monday to Saturday: 9:30 to 20:00

Sunday and Holidays: 9:30 a 15:00

Price

General free admission: Saturdays from 14:00, Sunday mornings and some holidays. Students aged 18 to 25, Children under 18 and elderly over 65.

General admission: 3,00€

One of the museum’s most iconic pieces, this 4th-century BCE Iberian bust is still the subject of debate. Her elaborate headdress and solemn expression suggest she was an important figure, possibly a priestess or goddess (or Iberian Beyonce), and she remains one of the most striking examples of ancient Iberian art that can be viewed in the National Archaeology Museum in Madrid.

A set of 7th-century Visigothic votive crowns and crosses was discovered near Toledo. This treasure is a rare example of early medieval goldwork. Intricately decorated and suspended with tiny chains and jewels, these objects were likely donated to churches by royalty and are among the finest pieces of early Christian metalwork in Europe.

While the original Paleolithic cave is closed to the public, this full-scale replica allows visitors to experience one of Europe’s oldest and most famous cave art sites. The detailed ceiling paintings—bison, deer, and handprints—are a powerful reminder of humanity’s earliest artistic expression.

This ornate gold belt was found in a burial near Aliseda, Cáceres, alongside other luxury items from the so-called Treasure of Aliseda. Made by Tartessian artisans using Phoenician techniques, it features intricate designs of plants, gryphons, and the Phoenician god Melqart battling a lion. Likely worn by a local elite before burial, the belt reflects both wealth and eastern Mediterranean influence in early Iberian society.

Housed in a small ivory-inlaid wooden case, these two early calculators were based on inventions by 16th-century mathematician John Napier. One uses rods and number tables to simplify multiplication; the other, stored in drawers, uses perforated pieces to perform more complex calculations; especially useful in fields like astronomy and cosmography. It’s a brilliant example of early scientific innovation during the Renaissance.