What to do and see in Spain, Spain: The Best Specialty Museums

The National Museum of Sculpture is one of the most important European museums on this discipline because of the quality of its collection, ranging from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, with a predominance of polychrome wood works: Alonso Berruguete, Juan de Juni, Gregorio Fernández, Mena, Martínez Montañés, Alonso Cano, etc. The 19th century, is represented by the plaster cast collection coming from the old National Museum of Artistic Reproductions. The historic value of the four buildings which make up the museum along the street reinforces the worthy character of the visit. The main building, Saint Gregory´s College, is one of the most singular examples of the architecture in the 15th century, next to the Palace of the Marquis de Villena, the House of the Sun and the church of St. Benedict the Elder.

CHILLIDA-LEKU is an outdoors museum that gathers the work of Eduardo Chillida (San Sebastián 1924-2002) in the properties of “Zabalaga farmhouse”, constructed in 1594 at the town of Hernani (Guipúzcoa-Spain). 10 kilometers far from San Sebastián, 40 sculptures of great format stand out on the ground of 12 hectares and a hundred small format works and drawings, created during 50 years of work, appear inside the restored farmhouse. In the same town in 1951, after his brief Parisian experience, Eduardo Chillida began his works in the forge of a blacksmith.

The house museum of José Saramago, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998 is a real immersion in the universe of the Portuguese writer. The guided tour includes first the house and the garden, then the private library and its various work spaces.

This large, 14th century castle overlooking the town of Palma now houses a museum.

DISCOVER THE CIUTAT DE LES ARTS I LES CIÈNCIES. Science, nature and art in a complex devoted to scientific and cultural dissemination in Europe, placed in Valencia. The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is a unique complex devoted to scientific and cultural dissemination which is made up of five main elements: the Hemisfèric (IMAX cinema and digital projections), the Umbracle (a landscaped vantage point and car park), the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum (an innovative centre of interactive science), the Oceanográfico (the largest aquarium in Europe with over 500 marine species) and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (which takes care of the operatic programme). The Ágora gives the complex a multifunctional space.

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation, in Jerez de la Frontera, is famous all over the world for its show called "How the Andalusian Horses Dance", a unique exhibition of horsemanship which both exhibits and summarises the work which the institution has carried out since its establishment. Although the show "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" may be considered the highest attainment of the School's work, there are other aspects which are regarded as equally, or even more important, for the Institution. Among these, we would like to highlight its role as a social and cultural vehicle for our equestrian heritage, the selection and promotion of horses, the training of Haute Ecole riders, the preservation and promotion of Classical and Country Dressage (Doma Vaquera), maintaining the prestige of our horsemanship, the breed of our Spanish horses, our traditions and culture. Furthermore, the show enables the Royal School to play host for the Province of Cadiz and to act as ambassadors abroad on annual tours to various foreign countries. In addition to the show, you might enjoy a visit to our training facilities as well as the Museum of Equestrian Art and the Carriage Museum.

The museum is located in a crefully restored 18th century house, where we can browse through the history of humanity by means of the glass. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 7pm.

Through former industrial textile manufacturing spaces and the spectacular architecture of this Modernist building the museum shows the evolution of scientific and technological advances in Catalonia, paying special attention to their industrial application and their effect on society.