One of the anecdotes that most of the public does not know about the Prado Museum is that its building was not intended to house an art gallery. Originally, the building that houses the Prado Museum was conceived by José Moñino y Redondo, Chief Minister to King Charles III, to be the Royal Office of Natural History. With this end in mind, Charles III intended to create a new series of scientific institutions that would redevelop the Paseo del Prado promenade.

Construction of the building was carried out during the reigns of Charles III and Charles IV, being completed at the beginning of the 19th century. However, it was Ferdinand VII who, at the request of his wife Isabel of Braganza, recovered the site—abandoned after the Spanish War of Independence—to be opened in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Paintings, displaying only 311 works.

Did you know? Although it is not often mentioned, the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso was one of the Prado Museum's directors. This occurred under extraordinary circumstances: Shortly after the Spanish Civil War broke out, the president of the Republic, Manuel Azaña signed a decree naming the painter Pablo Ruiz Picasso director.

The truth is, due to the exceptional circumstances, Picasso never executed his duties as director of the entity, nor did he take office. But it was thus officially registered until 1939. It is for this reason that the painter used to joke about the matter, claiming that it was unclear whether he'd ever held the office, as he was also never formally removed.

In the year 2012, one of the most talked-about discoveries in Art History in recent years was made public: The Prado Museum's storerooms announced that they held in their depths a replica of the Mona Lisa, the famous Leonardo Da Vinci painting that is housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

This hand-painted replica was completed by one of Leonardo's disciples, probably Andrea Salai or Francesco Melzi. The most peculiar aspect of the painting is that, according to researchers, the work is a parallel portrait painted by one of Da Vinci's disciples alongside the maestro himself. This work had never come to light until then due to popular opinion that it was a mere copy painted by some Flemish artist.

The pearl known as La Peregrina is an impressive jewel that once belonged to the Spanish Crown. In the year 1969, Richard Burton acquired it at an auction for 37,000 dollars as a gift to his wife Elizabeth Taylor.

Liz Taylor's Peregrina pearl is one of the most painted jewels in history, having been worn by several generations of Spanish monarchs. At the Prado Museum, we can see La Peregrina in Anthonis Mor's portrait of Queen Mary Tudor, as well as in the equestrian portraits of Philip III and Elisabeth of Bourbon painted by Velázquez.

The only time that the Prado Museum has been without its works was during the Spanish Civil War. When the Condor Legion bombed Madrid, it was decided that all the works were to be moved to a safe location, as they were in danger of being destroyed during the dispute.

Thus, all of the Prado's works were transferred to Spain's eastern coast and from there, to the League of Nations in Geneva. They remained in Geneva's custody until the end of the war. This heart-stopping transfer was made in record time and assured the collection's integrity.

Lastly, one of the most curious anecdotes surrounding the Prado Museum is the birth of comic actor Ignacio Fernández Sánchez, better known as Tony Leblanc. As he recounted in his biography and numerous interviews, he was born there because his father was the museum's caretaker. In fact, Tony Leblanc himself worked at the Prado for a time as a bellboy and lift attendant.

Nevertheless, the actress and singer Nati Mistral, who was his girlfriend for a time, asserts that this incident is fabricated. According to her, Tony Leblanc was born quite far from the Prado Museum, in his family home on Torrecilla de Leal Street in Madrid.