Archive for 'Museums & Galleries in Spain'

Spain loves a food product museum and there are various kinds that you will encounter located all around the country. However, one of the best of all of these museums is so appealing because the central star is well and truly the focus. We are, of course, talking about the MQM Museo del Queso Manchego in Toledo, which is less about the museum and far more about cheese. If you have found a vacation rental in Castille-la-Mancha and are spending time exploring Toledo and, in particular, exploring the culinary scene of the city, then you should definitely set aside some time to stop by.

Located in the heart of the historic quarter of Toledo, right next to the Cathedral, the Museo del Queso Manchego (or Museum of Manchego Cheese) was opened in the last few years and is dedicated to this traditional and ancient local cheese that is the city’s most well-known export. It is divided into three areas; a museum, a catas (or tasting) room, and a shop. The museum has an exhibition with audiovisual presentations, objects involved in cheesemaking throughout the centuries, and other Manchego cheese-related items, accompanied by information panels. This information is in Spanish so, if you don’t speak the language, you might not be able to glean as much from the exhibition. However, the items are still interesting to look at as part of the whole experience.

The Basque Country of Spain is a place with an incredibly long and rich cultural heritage and, as a result, is home to some astounding buildings, monuments, tourist attractions, and museums. While the most visited museum in the region is the world-renowned and impossibly famous Guggenheim, the lesser-known Bilbao Museum of Fine Art is actually also well-worth checking out while you’re in the area. With one of the richest collections in the country, a diverse range of offerings from the 6th century BC to the present day, and some incredibly famous names represented among the works on display, the museum is a must-see for art lovers who have found a vacation rental in Basque Country.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao) was established in 1908 but remained without a permanent home until one could be built for it in 1945. The resulting building, a lovely neoclassical gem, remains home to its collection to this day, though it was expanded in 1970 and then again in 2001 (another extension is also currently in the planning stages in 2019) to afford additional space for the growing number of works of art housed within its walls. Said collection was first created upon the merging of the collections of the previous and original Museo de Bellas Artes (which had been inaugurated in 1914) and the Museo de Arte Moderno (which had been inaugurated in 1924) and brought the two under one roof together.

Alicante is associated more with beach holidays, tanning, splashing in the sea, and heading to bars and enjoying the nightlife. However, there is much more to the city beyond what most tourists make of it. It is a place with its own rich history and culture that stretches back far before it became a popular holiday destination. One of these cultural hotspots is the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts (MUBAG) that is a nice change of pace and dose of local history for those who have found a vacation rental in Alicante.

Located inside the Palacio del Conde de Lumiares (Palace of the Count of Lumiares), a gorgeous, listed four-storey building that was built between 1748 and 1808, not far from the Plaza del Mar, the Esplanade and Postiguet beach, the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts is home to a collection of over 500 works of art dating from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

Picasso is, undoubtedly, one of the most famous artists that Spain and the world has ever produced and, while he lived in various places and is celebrated in different cities around the globe, his hometown is a must-see for those who are major fans of his work. Just find a vacation rental in Málaga and come discover the beautiful city that birthed one of the great masters of 20th century art, not to mention one of the finest collections of his work in the world in the Museo Picasso of Málaga. For an excellent overview of Picasso’s oeuvre, this little gem is a must!

Inaugurated by the King and Queen of Spain on the 27th of October 2003, after 50 whole years of planning, the museum is made up of a collection of more than 200 works that were donated and loaned to the museum by Christine Ruiz-Picasso (wife of Paul, Picasso’s eldest son) and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso (Picasso's grandson). It is housed in the painstakingly restored and carefully adjusted Renaissance gem, Palacio de Buenavista, in the heart of the historic core of the city, not far from the Alcazaba Fortress and Gibralfaro Castle.

Villajoyosa, or La Vila Joiosa, is a picture-perfect seaside city, often simply known as “La Vila” to locals, in the Province of Alicante in Spain. With the most idyllic of beaches – picture fluffy white crescents of sand meeting crystal clear cerulean water – and a town populated by pretty little streets lined in a veritable rainbow of crayon-box-coloured buildings, there is no doubt that it has all of the visual appeal that one could hope for from a town on the Mediterranean Sea. However, there is also plenty to see and do. If you have found a vacation rental in Valencia and you’re looking for somewhere to spend the day, you could not even dream of more perfect place to do so.

Literally meaning “joyful town”, Villajoyosa is a pretty extraordinary spot along the famous Costa Blanca that boasts 3km of beaches, including La Platja Centre, right by the city centre. It is also famous for its chocolate industry and tourism and has an exceptionally pretty Old Town, all of which amounts to plenty of reasons to be joyful and joyful experiences for visitors who find themselves in the city.