The Museo del Prado, together with Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía in Madrid, forms one point of the renowned "golden triangle of the arts". El Prado is one of the world's foremost art museums, a result of the collection mania of the Spanish monarchy and its once wide empire, and it holds works by the most outstanding Spanish and foreign artists from all periods between the XII and the XIX century. It can be viewed as a living encyclopaedia of the history of art with works such as The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, Christ washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto, The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymous Bosch, and The Three Graces by Rubens. Key works of Spanish art include Las Meninas by Velázquez, Jacob’s Dream by Ribera and The Third of May: the Executions on Príncipe Pío by Goya among others. Recently, the building was extended towards the area of Los Jerónimos by architect Rafael Moneo, with the aim of enlarging the exhibition area: the whole’s museum collection, 3000 thousand paintings, will be shown, instead of the current 1500. But further to these museums, Madrid’s calling cards are many: astonishing art galleries and foundations, charming antique shops, relentless nightlife, original, chic and glamorous boutiques, an exceptional live music scene, a feast of fine restaurants and tapas bars, and a population that’s mastered the art of living the good life. It’s not that other cities don’t have some of these things: it’s just that Madrid has mastered them all. And Madrid these days means a way of living that can be hard to resist… and why would you resist such a temptation?