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Alicante is a city with many museums. Art (old, modern and ultra modern), the Christmas story, bullfighting, the Spanish Civil War, archaeology, the ocean sailing race and the famous Hogueras fiestas all have their own museum. Here is a brief description of what the city has to offer museum visitors.
Ocean Race Museum. Alicante has been the starting point for the Ocean Race four times. This sailing race is considered the most demanding challenge for modern sailors and is sometimes described as the 'Everest of the sailing world'. Only the upcoming editions will depart from Alicante. The museum uses interactive installations to explore the history of the regatta and the world at sea. The most fearless sailors and the hidden pleasures of the ocean are brought to life using the most modern technologies.
The Hogueras Museum. This is entirely dedicated to Alicante's most important fiesta: the Hogueras. The museum charts the development of this representative festival. The Hogueras, or the bonfires of San Juan, have the city completely in its grip for a week in June. The museum has a collection of the most beautiful meter-high dolls on display, which have been spared from the fires over the years. There are also fake bonfires and typical costumes to admire. In a separate hall, clips of highlights from previous editions are continuously shown. For more information about the Hogueras festivities, click HERE.
The MARQ, the provincial archaeological museum. Here, archaeology is not approached in a conventional way. The collection covers the distant past (the Paleolithic period) up to modern times. This avant-garde museum uses the most modern audiovisual techniques to introduce visitors to archaeology through the ages over an area of 9,000 m2. The innovative approach was rewarded with the European Museum Prize of the Year in 2004.
The MACA art museum. Next to the Santa Maria basilica, this former grain warehouse houses an important collection of paintings from the twentieth century. Famous names are Picasso, Dali and Miro.
Museum of the Christmas story. As in many villages and towns in the region, Alicante also has a museum dedicated to the depiction of the Christmas story. Of course, the history of the local celebration and depictions are central. However, the building also shows examples of the way in which people in other countries experience the Christmas story.
The MUSA: museum of the city of Alicante. This is located in the Santa Barbara castle. This is a good and inspiring place to gain insight into the rich past of the city. The museum logically explains the establishment and development of different cultures in Alicante. This history covers the period from prehistory to the present day.
Bullfighting museum. A permanent exhibition of the history of local bullfighters can be seen on the Plaza de Toros.
