The expansion and renovation project, the largest in the museum's history, cost 152 million euros (203 million dollars) and will increase the area dedicated to temporary and permanent expositions by half.
Culture Minister Carmen Calvo on Saturday called the project an "extraordinary" event for Spain. She said the work, under the direction of architect Rafael Moneo, had been "very complicated."
New areas totaling 22,000 square metres (237,000 square-feet) will be open to the public in October. Other complementary work, including a library and art school, should be complete by the end of the year in a nearby building.
The project was conceived in 1994 but work did not begin until 2002. Costs also tripled in comparison to initial estimates.
Work on the original building began in 1785.
The project has involved the construction of an ultra-modern extension connecting the main building with the nearby Jeronimos church cloister, which was restored. The cloister will host a collection of the museum's sculptures.
The main building will be "decongested" and dedicated exclusively to permanent collections, with surface area increased by 25%, said Rodrigo Uria, head of the museum's board.
The number of paintings presented as part of the permanent collection will increase from 1,000 to 1,500, said Gabriele Finaldi, the museum's deputy director.
Some two million people visit the Prado each year. It houses work from Spanish masters, including the "Menines" from Velasquez and Goya's "Maja Desnuda."
Sapa-AFP
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
