We Visited 7 Of The Most Curious Museums In Spain
Without a doubt, museums are one of the great attractions of Spain. But this time we are not going to look at the Prado or the Guggenheim. No, we want to visit some of the most curious museums in Spain. Modest, little known, but very interesting. Do you want to prove it? Join us!
1. Museum of Microminiatures, Guadalest (Alicante)
To enjoy this museum you must have a good view, because we are talking about micro-paintings and micro-sculptures. No, you do not have to look for the glasses, you will be able to see their pieces thanks to powerful magnifying glasses. And it seems incredible what can be done on the head of a pin.
Can’t you imagine it? Well, here are some examples: a painting by El Greco painted on a grain of rice , Las Meninas by Velázquez on a grain of corn or the Statue of Liberty inside the eye of a needle. Amazing, right? By the way, they are the work of Manuel Ussá.
And if you still have time and you want to be surprised, in Guadalest there is another very curious museum, in this case it exhibits thousands of pepper and salt shakers from all over the world and all imaginable times. A property of the Andre Ludden family, a lover of these pieces.
2. Lunar Museum, Fresnedillas de la Oliva (Madrid)
Spain has its bit of glory when it comes to the space race. And it is in Fresnedillas de la Oliva. Here, one of the NASA manned spaceflight tracking bases was installed, with a powerful antenna that allowed communication with the ships.
In this small museum you can learn about the history of human journeys to the Moon, from the first studies carried out to the Apollo XI mission. In addition, you will be able to see countless objects, from original pieces that belonged to Neil Armstrong to models that reproduce rockets and other space-related gadgets.
3. Urinal Museum, Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca)
Without a doubt, it is one of the most curious museums in Spain. Can you think of a museum rarer than one dedicated to the urinal? Here you can see hundreds of pieces from the 13th to the 20th century. They are made of porcelain, ceramic or metal. Some are humble, others with a decoration worthy of kings… although they all had the same function.
They are arranged by categories and more than one will make you smile. A museum that is worth seeing and that was born from the collector’s eagerness of a neighbor of Ciudad Rodrigo, José María del Arco Ortiz alias “Pesetos”
4. Museum of the Siphon, Pola de Siero (Asturias)
The siphon was part of the culture and history of Spain for years. Today there is a museum dedicated to him in Pola de Siero. Here there are more than 15,000 bottles in what was a former factory of this drink. You will not only be able to see bottles from the country, but also from Mexico, Poland and Argentina, among others.
There are all kinds of them, from the simplest “daily” to others with reliefs or serigraphs. And all thanks to another collector, Aurelio Antidio Cuesta “Lelo”.
5. Museum of Cinema Cars, Yuncos (Toledo)
This museum is very special. Why? Because in it you will see cars and other types of vehicles that will sound a lot to you. In fact, you may have seen them in movies like Mortadelo and Filemón or Volver de Almodóvar; or in series such as The Time Between Seams , Velvet or The Secret of Puente Viejo , to give just a few examples.
Owned by Vicente Pavía and his sons, you can also see models of vehicles that circulated on Spanish roads a few decades ago, from the Simca 1000 to the Seat 127. Authentic classics.
6. Museum of Torture, Santillana del Mar (Cantabria)
From chastity belts to masks, from the vile club to infernal machinery that caused the most terrible pain. And they were all used in reality. A journey through the most cruel tortures of the Inquisition that will make your hair stand on end.
Why this museum when there are them in other parts of the geography? Because it is in a beautiful medieval city such as Santillana del Mar. Nothing like taking a walk through it to remove the impression that this museum can cause you.
7. Chocolate Museum, Astorga (León). One of the most curious museums in Spain
In the gastronomy of Astorga, the cooked maragato stands out. But until not long ago, this Leonese town was also known for its chocolates. Here there were numerous factories dedicated to making this delicious delicacy. Today they are just a memory, but one of the most curious museums in Spain remains … and sweetest.
Here you can learn how chocolate was made in an artisanal way, as well as its origin and contemplate packaging, boxes and other types of objects related to it. And, yes, you can also try and, of course, buy.
What did you think of this original tour? They are some of the most curious museums in Spain. Take note and try to visit one of them on your next vacation. You will not regret!
