Alicante Cultural Route

A city with three thousand years of history

In order to understand the city and enjoy it the most, we should consider not only its present but also its past.

To the CAPA Sculpture Collection and the Asegurada Museum of Contemporary Art can now be added the recently opened Alicante Bullfighting Museum, the MARQ archaeological museum and the Gravina Fine Arts museum (MUBAG); the Museo de Belenes (Nativity Scene museum); the Pozos de Garrigós (Water Museum) and the permanent exhibitions at the Lonja de Pescado and at the Archivo Municipal.

PROVINCIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM (MARQ)

The Archaeological Museum is located in the old Hospital San Juan de Dios and constructed in 1930, the premises occupy a surface area of 9,000m2.

The extremely valuable collection housed here consists of 81,000 pieces dating from the Stone Age to the Medieval times, the most important piece among them being the Lady of Guardamar from the Iberian settlement of Cabezo Lucero.

In May 2002 new exhibition rooms and halls were inaugurated. Also guided tours on request. Access for the handicapped.

OPENING HOURS

10 am to 7pm

Sundays & Holidays: 10 am to 2 pm.

Closed on Mondays.

Phone: +34 965 14 90 06.

Alicante Cultural Route

NATIVITY SCENE MUSEUM

Located in a typical house in the Old Quarter of Alicante dating from the first half of the 19th century.

This Museum of Christmas Cribs contains a collection of Christmas dioramas, examples of Christmas nativity scenes from Spain, Europe, Asia and Africa, all kinds of objects related to Christmas and a life-sized nativity scene.

The Nativity Scene movement has a solid tradition, linked to the excellent work of the many artist who use only traditional craft methods.

The Alicante Nativity Scene Makers Association was founded in 1959, being the first of its kind declared to be a body of public interest by the Interior Ministry.

OPENING HOURS

Winter: 10 am to 2 pm and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm.º

Summer: 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.

Closed Saturday afternoons, Sundays & Mondays.

Phone: +34 965 20 22 32 .

Address: c/ San Agustín, 3. Alicante.

Alicante Cultural Route

GRAVINA FINE ARTS MUSEUM (MUBAG)

The Gravina Fine Arts Museum is situated within the Gravina Palace, which was built during the 17th and 18th centuries, this recently opened Museum of Fine Arts exhibits some 500 pieces dating from the Middle Ages up until 1920.

The exhibition includes the works of such important artists as Rodrigo de Osona, Salzillo, Vicente López, Antonio Gisbert, Joaquín Agrasot, Xavier Soler, Eusebio Sempere and Emilio Varela among others.

The Museum also has an auditorium, a permanent exhibition lounge about the history of the building as well as a temporary exhibition lounge.

OPENING HOURS

Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm.

Sundays & Bank Holidays: 10 am to 2 pm.

Mondays closed.

Phone: 965 14 67 80.

Alicante Cultural Route

THE ALICANTE"HOGUERAS" MUSEUM

The Hogueras Museum is located in the Casa de la Festa building where the two streets Rambla de Méndez Núñez and Teniente Álvarez Soto meet.

This recently opened museum is dedicated to Alicante´s most popular festivals: the Hogueras de San Juan.

Here, we can find a great exhibition of photographs from throughout the years, the so-called Ninots indultats, or Saved Statues, a collection of traditional costumes, advertising posters, etc. as well as an audio-visual hall.

OPENING HOURS:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.

Sundays & Bank Holidays: 10 am to 2 pm.

Closed on Sunday afternoon and Mondays.

Phone. +34 965 14 68 28.

Alicante Cultural Route

LONJA DE PESCADO

Inaugurated in 1992 as an exhibition hall and enlarged in December 2000, this curious building with clear Arabic influences dates from the beginning of the 20th century and was designed by the engineer Próspero in the Historicist style.

At one time a fish market, it formed an important part of the port installations in the so-called Zona de Poniente.

Its generous length and height makes it ideal for the celebration of large art exhibitions as well as other artistic, literary and charity events, festivals, etc.

OPENING HOURS

Address: Paseo Almirante Julio Guillén Tato, s/n 03001 Alicante

Tuesday to Friday: 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm.

Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.

Sundays & Holidays: 10 am to 2 pm.

Phone: +34 96 592 20 18

Opening hours may vary according to the exhibition

Alicante Cultural Route

MUSEUM UNIVERSITY OF ALICANTE (MUA)

The MUA (Museum of the University of Alicante) specialises exclusively in Contemporary Art and carries out research activities in this area as well as the production, conservation, documentation, diffusion and teaching of this art.

The Museum bases its activity on the dissemination of historic-artistic heritage, the presentation of research results obtained on the University of Alicante campus and the diffusion of 21st century artistic works with particular focus on the most modernist forms of expression.

OPENING HOURS

10 am to 8 pm.

Saturdays: 10 am to 2 pm. Closed on Sundays.

Phone: +34 965 90 94 66

Alicante Cultural Route

MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES

Housed in a mansion dating from the 18th century, the municipal archives hold the remains of a late-Roman necropolis dating from the 6th to 8th centuries A.D.

There are manuscripts dating from the 12th century and important documents regarding the town's history, such as the granting of a town charter to Alicante by Ferdinand II (el Católico) in 1490.

There is also a newspaper archive dating from the 19th century and a photo archive.

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Phone: +34 965 14 09 27.

Alicante Cultural Route

ALICANTE BULLFIGHTING MUSEUM

The Alicante Bullfighting Museum exhibits a permanent display dedicated to the most renowned local bullfighters including Vicente Blau, Francisco Antón, José María Manzanares and Luis Francisco Esplá among others.

The museum also has a library, a conference room and exhibition lounge, together with an audiovisual room in which discussion groups, slide shows and talks about bullfighting are held.

OPENING HOURS

Tuesday to Friday: 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.

Saturday: 10.30 am to 1.30 pm.

Closed on Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays.

Phone. +34 965 21 76 78.

Alicante Cultural Route

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