Possibly the most comprehensive and valuable assembly of treasures anywhere on Earth, the Museum's massive roof covers critically important collections in the schools of Greek sculpture , Roman and Roman Imperial sculpture , Egyptian art , religious iconography , medieval artifacts , and a great deal more. Da Vinci 's haunting Virgin and Child sketch has a quiet darkened room to itself, not to be missed. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the building's own fabulous touches, such as the Escher-like rear staircase and the Old Dining Room . There is a large collection of religious art as well. Your Prado ticket will get you in to the nearby Cas n del Bueno Retiro , where the headliner is Picasso 's El Guernica.
Antique tapestries line many of the walls.
The Antiquities group includes rare sculptures and mosaics from Greek, Minoan, Roman, and Balkan cultures. The famous Roman piece Gemma Augustea is here. For those who want to complement their visit to Europe's artistic history with a tour of its physical history, Vienna's notable Natural History Museum is next door. If the British Museum sits at one end of the table, the mighty Louvre gazes back from the other. Then, decide what you want to see most and take time to savor it.