It is located in the spacious and harmonious building that was the house of the Count of Buenavista, designed by Manuel Tolsá in the late 18th century.

The collection of the National Museum of San Carlos originated from the painting galleries of the former Academy of San Carlos, founded in 1783 by Carlos III, the King of Spain. Currently, it has a collection of over 2,000 European art pieces from the 14th to the 19th centuries.

The collection represents various styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Romantic, and those from the late 19th century. In the seven rooms dedicated to the permanent collection, visitors can appreciate works from Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, Flemish, and other schools, featuring works by Tintoretto, Titian, Zurbarán, and Rivera, among others.