A monumental building packed with the giants of natural history – from dinosaurs to whales to giant squid – that really brings its rocks, fossils and bones to life.
A little north of busy central Madrid, is the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – the Museum of Natural Sciences. Among its fascinating collections, of natural wonders from around the world, you'll find dinosaurs, giant sloths, gigantic squid and whale skeletons. The building itself – the 19th century Palacio de Exposiciones de las Artes e Industrias – is pretty monumental in itself. It's noted for its bright ceramics, patterned brick-work, tall central dome – and sheer size.But the real stars are inside. The museum is devoted to educating, informing and enthusing its visitors on the natural marvels of our planet – and beyond. Meteorites are among some of the many geological treasures on display in its Minerals, Fossils and Human Evolution section. These include a vast array of fossils, many from South America. Perhaps the best-known is the megatherium, an elephant-sized sloth found in Argentina in 1789. And of course, it wouldn't be a Natural History museum without a dinosaur. The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales has plenty – including the full-skeleton of a diplodocus. The museum also has a large wing dedicated to Mediterranean Nature and Civilisation. This looks at the interaction between the natural world, its changing climate and the rising of civilizations in the Mediterranean region. It is here that you'll find a full-scale mock-up of a Giant Squid – and the 21-metre skeleton of a fin whale that washed up on Marbella's beach in 2008.There are also more traditional displays among the many interactive exhibits. The Museum's intricately preserved mammal and bird dioramas are a marvel to behold. And the attractions don't stop outside the Museum. Exploring the Mediterranean Forest Educational Garden is one of the highlights, along with the adjacent Garden of Stones. Here the curators have cleverly bought to life the fossils of plants of times long-past, to create an inspirational fossil garden. If you want your natural history bought vividly to life, Madrid's Museum of Natural Sciences is the place to be.
