8 Days in Madrid
 

Thanks to all who have replied to my query re Madrid hotels. I can see everyone is extremely knowledgable, so I'm asking for more advice, please. We'll be 8 days in Madrid. Hope to find day trips to Toledo, Segovia and Avila. Museums are must-sees for us. Grateful for your recommendations re an itinerary. Thank you!

The Prado and the Thyssen museums are superlative. The Reine Sophia is pretty good, though not in the same class as the Prado and Thyssen. I'm not familiar with Segovia and Avila, but I've been to Toledo and liked it.

I urge you track down Goya's ceiling in the Church of San Francisco.

Other interesting sights in Madrid are:

Museo de America
The Museum of the Americas has a variety of collections from the different cultures in the Americas. Especially worthy of note are the sections devoted to pre-Columbian archaeology, ethnography and colonial art, with extraordinary jewels like the head of Viracocha and the Los Quimbayas Treasure.
Avenida Reyes Catolicos, 6. Nearby metro: Moncloa

Templo de Debod
This construction dates from the 2nd century BC, and, after centuries on Egyptian soil, was brought to Spain as a gift from Egypt.Transportation of the temple, which was originally built by order of king Adikhalamani, began in 1960, coinciding with the start of works at the Aswan Dam. It finally arrived in Madrid in 1968, and can be seen in La Montaña Park, very close to Plaza de España. This is one of the few sites where you can view a complete set of ancient Egyptian archaeological remains far from Egypt itself. The monument is surrounded by beautiful gardens with a fountain, and is Madrid's oldest. It has a hall, several chapels and a terrace on the upper floor, and conserves its original decoration inside.
Paseo del Pintor Rosales. Nearby metro: Plaza de España

Museo del Traje (Clothing Museum)
This museum has numerous exhibits showing the evolution of clothing in Spain throughout history. An exquisite selection of clothing items from times gone by is combined with traditional dress from every region of Spain, as well as examples of contemporary fashion design. Designers like Fortuny, Balenciaga, Pertegaz, Hannibal Laguna, Ailante and Torretta, among other masters of haute couture, are represented in this unusual museum, which also displays pieces of jewellery and home furnishings, as well as accessories like shoes and gloves.
Avenida Juan de Herrera, 2. Bus # 133 (Callao-Mirasierra)

Museo Arquelogico Nacional (National Archaelogical Museum)
The museum came into existence at the end of the 19th century, aiming to bring together and exhibit items related to archaeology, ethnography, decorative arts and stamps from a range of different institutions. The permanent exhibition takes a complete look at the history of Spain, from prehistory to the 19th century. It has excellent collections of all types, such as: Egyptian sarcophagi and mummies; Hispano-Roman decorative art; Moorish archaeology and Mudejar masonry and ceramics, amongst others. There is also a partial reconstruction of the Altamira Caves, and a library specialised in scientific publications on art, history, archaeology and museology. One of its most highly-prized treasures is the bust of the Dama de Elche (Lady of Elche).
Calle Serrano, 13. Nearby metro: Serrano

Basilica de San Francisco el Grande
San Francisco el Grande Church, a Classicist building from the 18th Century, was built on an old convent which legend has it was founded by San Francisco de Asís in the 13th Century. This new temple was built under the orders of King Carlos III, designed by Francisco Cabezas in 1761 and finished by Francisco Sabatini and Miguel Fernández in 1784. It has a magnificent vertical façade and the main feature of the building exterior is the huge dome measuring 33 metres in diameter, largest than that St. Paul's in London. Inside there are superb frescoes on the dome, decorative canvases by prestigious artists such as Francisco de Goya, as well as an important art gallery in the cloister.
Plaza de San Francisco, 11. Nearby metro: Puerta de Toledo

Some inmissable paintings in Madrid.

Museo del Prado:
- By Bosch: El jardin de las delicias.
- By Velazquez: Las Meninas (Maids of Honor), La rendicion de Breda (The Surrender of Breda), Los borrachos (The Feast of Bacchus).
- By Goya: Los fusilamientos de la Montaña de Principe Pio (The Third of May: The Execution of the Defenders of Madrid), La carga de los mamelucos (The Charge of the Mamelukes in Puerta del Sol), La Maja desnuda (The Nude Maja), La Duquesa de Chinchon (The Duchess of Chinchon), La familia de Carlos IV (The Family of Charles IV).
By Rubens: El jardin del amor (The Garden of Love)

Museo Reina Sofia:
- By Picasso: Guernica.
- By Dali: Girl in the window, The Great Masturbator.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza:
- By Ghirlandaio: Portrait of Giovanna Tornabouni...

bm

My vote is for the Museo Cerralbo. A wonderful glimpse into a late 19th century mansion. And the museum in the Telefonica building. They were remodeling last November, but if they are done, you might be able to see their art collection. If not, there is still the telephone museum which I found interesting.