The Sorolla Museum is preparing to reopen after a two-year hiatus and is once again claiming its place as one of Madrid’s most special venues, to the point of being named a must-see by international media outlets such as The New York Times.
The city thus regains one of its most beloved house-museums, a place where visitors not only view paintings but literally step into the life and studio of Joaquín Sorolla.
Two years of closure to bring it up to date
There is still no set opening date, but Madrid City Hall has announced that it will open this year. The closure since 2024 has aimed to ensure that the museum is in good shape for the future without losing its character. Behind closed doors, work has been carried out to preserve the structure, improve facilities ( climate control, lighting, security), and restore delicate areas, both architectural and exhibition spaces.
According to official information, the renovations were absolutely necessary for a house-museum dating from the early 20th century. Updating systems, controlling humidity, inspecting roofs, and adapting the layout to make it more accessible allows the paintings and the building itself to be better preserved, and enables the public to enjoy the visit more comfortably, without losing the feeling of stepping into a home.
What visitors will find again
With the reopening, the familiar Sorolla will return: the grand beach scenes with children running among waves and sails, the portraits of his family, the sun-drenched gardens, the scenes of work and celebration in the Mediterranean. That combination of luminous painting and intimate setting is precisely what led the New York Times to single it out at the time as a must-see in Madrid: rarely does one see so directly how an artist worked, how he saw the world, and how he lived.
Beyond the permanent collection, the museum is also expected to resume its program of small temporary exhibitions, focusing on specific aspects of his work (drawings, sketches, travels, international commissions) or on the dialogue between Sorolla and other artists of his time. And, of course, the workshops, guided tours, and educational activities that had made the museum a space much loved by families, schools, and art lovers will return.
The garden, the outdoor gem that returns to the map
For many, the first love at first sight with the Sorolla Museum doesn’t happen in a gallery, but in the garden. That ensemble of courtyards inspired by the Alhambra and Andalusian gardens, with ponds, fountains, tiles, and lush vegetation, turns the entrance into a little getaway within the city. It’s a place to sit on a bench, listen to the water, and feel as though the noise of Madrid remains on the other side of the wall.
The reopening will also put this space back on the map for leisurely strolls: a perfect spot to visit before or after the tour, or even for city residents who come just to enjoy the garden and its atmosphere.
