Museums of Cartagena, Spain, The MURAM, the Region of Murcias' most important modern art museum 

This is housed in the Palacio Aguirre, one of the most architecturally important buildings of Cartagenas' modernist movement.

It  is located on the corner of Plaza de la Merced and Calle San Diego, an area which was an important residential area for the bourgoise property owners of the 19^th and 20th century and the site of the former Conventa de Nuestra Senora de la Merced.

The convent was built in 1708, then demolished in 1835 , the Plaza established at this point and the area becoming sought after by the wealthy mine owners and businessmen who defined the city in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

The Palacio Aguirre was constructed by successful businessman Camilo Aguirre on the site of the old convent, designed by the important modernist architect, Victor Beltri, the brief being to create a landmark building which flew the flag of the modernist movement.

The first plans he presented in 1899 were ruled to be too traditional and modest, and the designs for this striking building were finally accepted in 1901.

Sadly, by 1917, the industrialist was dead, and the building was sold on by his heirs, being used for a number of different purposes until it became the property of the state in 1982. Shut up for 15 years, it fell into a sad state of disrepair and in 1997 plans were put in place to modernise and restore it.

Although parts of the old palace are still intact, the building which visitors see today is unrecognizable as a historic building, the inside a sea of glass and chrome which whilst fitting for a museum of modern art bears no resemblance to the magnificence with which the palace would have been furnished when in use as a family home.

Although it's stunning modern architecture, it's a labyrinth of a building with many floors, and although there is a lift for those with limited mobility, it's an exhausting place to visit as there are just so many floors and so many stairs, which can distract from the exhibits somewhat.

 

The museum hosts exhibitions of modern art throughout the year and entry is free of charge

 

Opening hours of the MURAM, Museo regional de Arte Moderno,  Cartagena Spain 

Tuesday-Saturday 10am-8.30pm

Sunday and Festival days, 10am-2pm

 

MURAM

Plaza de la Merced 15 and 16

 

Click for map.

 

To see what the current exhibition is, click for Art and Photography exhibitions, Cartagena and you'll find all the current exhibitions in Cartagena listed.

 

There are also activities for the children, workshops, guided tours of modernist buildings in the cooler season and occasionally concerts in the MURAM. You'll find those by clicking Activities Programmes, Museums Cartagena for any current programmes.

 

Parking practicalities.

Around the Plaza is blue parking, which is metered parking and there is a little bit further along the Calle San Diego in front of the Hotel Habaneros.

One of the most useful parking areas to know about is behind the Plaza de la Merced in front of the new Town hall building. This whole area was flattened and is now quite run down but is a very useful area for parking. The area is quite rough, but generally lads will ask for money to look after the car for you. Our strategy is always to say we'll pay when we get back if the car hasn't been damaged and then pay them a euro when we get back. The car has never been touched and we've all got to eat.

 

Talking of eating, check out the little tiny Panaderia Maestre in Calle San Diego, on the way up towards the Habaneros. This tiny little bakery still uses a wood fired oven which is heated with almond and olive logs and almond husks, and has been run by the same family for over a century.

The Danish pastries just melt in the mouth, they're really superb and once you've tried them once, you'll be popping into the MURAM on a regular basis to see if there are any new exhibitions on....

At Christmas they bake little bread nativity scenes and sell sweets for Semana Santa.

 

This plaza is the location for a highly charged meeting of Jesus and Mary during Semana Santa. On the day of the patrona, holy Friday, the Via Crucis takes place and the statues are carried on enormous tronos by over 100 people, Mary by women, Jesus by men. Having walked through the streets in convoy they go their separate ways around the Plaza and meet facing each other to the applause of the crowds. As they sway and bow to each other, lit only by torches, tumultuous applause signals the beginning of a firework display, and they part, returning to the church.

It's a really special moment.

 Click to see our report about the day of the patrona, and put it in your diary for next year.

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