Madrid - Madrid's Prado art museum drew a record number of visitors in 2008 despite the economic crisis, sources of Spain's top art museum said Friday.

The Prado was visited by 2.8 million people, 3.6 per cent more than in 2007.

Visitors took an interest in the enlarged installations as well as temporary exhibitions such as Rembrandt as History Painter, which will run through January 6, museum sources said.

The Reina Sofia museum of modern art received 1.8 million visitors, 16 per cent more than in 2007, according to museum sources.

The only one among Madrid's three top art museums to lose visitors was the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum, which drew 750,000 people, 225,000 less than in 2007. (dpa)