May 17 Night of the Museums 2025 in Lorca
Over 100 activities including tours, exhibitions, workshops, live music, jazz and much more in the centre of Lorca
This year the range of activities on Museums Night, being held on Saturday May 17, is wider than ever, with a host of guided tours, children's and adults’ workshops, street theatre, flashmobs, parades, exhibitions and arts and crafts demonstrations among others. Among the highlights are a gastronomic market in the Plaza de España, street art activities, a visit to the belltower of the church of San Patricio, a “Jazz old Jazz” concert and a display of classic motor cars, combining for what Mayor Fulgncio Gil describes as “a true explosion of cultural and social activity”.
More specifically, the participants in the gastro-market include Carnicería Pedro y Cati, the salted cod of FomLorca, Vinoteca El Parloteo, the Casa Miguel food truck, La Carpintería and Bru-tal Sweed, while one of the adult workshops involves a session of painting with music and a glass of wine at the Palacete de Huerto Ruano.
The full program includes the following:
La Merced visitors’ centre
17.30 to 22.00: Discover the history of the city of Lorca through audiovisual displays (audio guides can be downloaded).
18.00: Medieval story-telling for infants aged over 3.
Torre Alfonsina
19.30 to 00.30: Climb to the highest point in the city at Lorca castle (audio guides can be downloaded).
Medieval synagogue
19.30 to 00.30: Discover the legacy of the medieval Jewish population of Lorca at this synagogue, the only one of its kind to have been discovered in Spain (audio guides can be downloaded).
Church of San Patricio
19.30 to 00.30: Open doors to visit the church, the main altar, the chapels and the crypt. Last admission at midnight.
19.30 to 23.30: Climb the bell tower (prior bookings required online here, maximum 15 people per group).
Santuario Virgen de las Huertas
17.00 to 18.30 and 20.30 to 23.00: “Las Joyas Reales de la Patrona”, an exhibition of the jewelry and accoutrements of the figure of the Virgen de las Huertas.
Palacio Califal
21.30 to 00.30: See the remains of this Moorish palace underneath the Santuario de la Virgen de las Huertas, visits last 45 minutes. Prior bookings required online here.
Museo del Belén
19.30 to 21.30: See the nativity scenes museum in the church of San Roque and San Sebastián.
Madres Mercedarias
19.30 to 00.30: See the archaeological remains of the old medieval city of Lorca, the Moorish baths and the sculptured group of San Blas by Francisco Salzillo. Guided visits last 20 minutes.
Candlelit tours of the old Barrio de Santiago district (Calle Zapatería, Calle Emiliano Rojo, Calle Abad de los Arcos, Plaza de Coros y Danzas, Porche de San Antonio).
Juan Antonio Dimas scouts museum
Guided tours of the exhibition “El cambio inadvertido, ayer y hoy del escultismo en Lorca” are held at 19.30, 20.30, 21.30, 22.30 and 23.30, bookings online here.
Plaza de la Curia
17.00 to 18.15: Artistic expression workshop for children between 8 and 13.
Plaza de San Vicente
17.30: Painting on textiles workshop, bring a garment to decorate!
19.30: “Sincronicidades”, an exhibition of paintings by students at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Escénicas de Lorca.
MUVIC. Museo del Viacrucis
17.00 to 00.30: “MUVIC en clave de Jazz” in the Plaza del Paso Morado.
17.30 to 19.30: Photographic exhibition of the Vía Dolorosa, the Calvary of Lorca and the procession of the Paso Morado.
Children’s activity, “Derriba al centurión”.
21.00: Concert by “Jazz old Jazz”.
Museo Arqueológico de Lorca - MUAL
Open all evening from 17.00 to 00.30.
17.00 and 18.30: Children’s workshops to discover Lorca 4,000 years ago in the time of the Argaric culture. Age 5 to 12. Bookings on 968 406267.
17.00 to 00.30: Detective game, “La muerte a lo largo de la historia en el Museo Arqueológico de Lorca”. Se find 8 items in the museum related to death throughout the history of Lorca!
“Urban Sketcher” activity for adults.
Presentation of a kist burial which was discovered in 1992 in Los Cipreses (La Torrecilla).
Plaza de Juan Moreno
Drama performance, “Los Hermanos Siret. Una aventura de descubrimiento”.
muBBla. Museo de Bordados Paso Blanco
18.00: Children’s tour.
Photography exhibition in the cloister arches of Santo Domingo.
19.30 to midnight: Historic catwalk show in Calle Paso Blanco.
MASS. Museo Azul de la Semana Santa
18.30 to 19.30: Children’s workshops on the Romans.
19.30 to midnight: “Roma Eterna” exhibition, guided tours every 20 minutes. Bookings required on 968 472077.
Palacio de Guevara
19.30 to midnight: Guided tours every 30 minutes, discover the priceless treasures hoarded by the owners of the palace for 300 years! Prior bookings online here.
20.30 to 22.30: Every 30 minutes, “Raíces Vivas” on the patio, a trip through the world of folk music and dancing in Lorca.
20.00 onwards: Photocall “Noche de los Museos” at the gate to the garden.
Palacete Huerto Ruano
Performance of “Raíces” by Carmen Franco.
17.00 to 00.30: Retrospective exhibition of the works of painter Gloria Díaz.
20.00: A 90-minute painting workshop for adults, registration at info@fortalezasound.com.
Casa del Artesano de Lorca
20.00 to midnight: Guided visits, demonstrations of arts and crafts, workshop, photocall, an exhibition of gold and silver work by Andrés Barnés, traditional music by Pablo Díaz Moreno,
Prior registration for the live demonstrations online here.
Santa María La Mayor – ciuFRONT
20.00-00.00: “La Obra comentada”.
21.00 and every hour until midnight: Screening of “San Clemente, Ínclito Patrón de Lorca”.
21.30: Micro-tour, La invasión Musulmana de Lorca.
22.30: Micro-tour, Alfonso X y Lorca.
23.30: Micro-tour, La cultura Judía y el SeferTorah de Lorca.
Casa-Museo Archicofradía Jesús Resucitado (C/Zapatería, 1)
19.30 to midnight: Exhibitions of religious art, embroidery and the shawl of the Virgen de la Encarnación.
Plaza de Calderón
17.00: Children’s workshop with vinyls (90 minutes). Prior registration at info@fortalezasound.com.
19.00: Magic show with Mago J.
20.30: Troubadours performance.
21.30: Life Loopic in concert.
23.00: DJ music.
Plaza de España
17.30 to 19.30: Urban dance workshop.
21.00: Live music from Paco Mango and Laza.
19.30 to midnight: Gastro-market
Porche de San Antonio
22.00: Fencing duel by candlelight.
Coso de Sutullena bull ring
19.30 to 21.00 (every 30 minutes): Giuded visits.
Also, guided visits to the Club Taurino de Lorca (bookings online here).
Calle Corredera
Exhibition of classic cars between Plaza de la Concordia and the old Cámara Agraria.
La Merced
18.00: Fencing classes for children.
19.30: Fencing display with both medieval and modern weapons.
Paso Encarnado
19.30 to midnight: The museum opens to visitors, come and see the gold and silk cloak of the Virgen de la Soledad.
Other activities
19.30: Musical parade with the Banda de Música de Lorca.
21.00: Flores de Ciudad parade.
22.00: Jazz with the Joaquín Rubio Quartet in the Plaza Pasaje del Convento.
Street theatre.
Flashmobs in various squares.
20.00: Horse-drawn carriages parade from La Merced.
Tourist trains
19.30 to 00.30.
Route 1: Centro de visitantes. Santa María la Mayor. Castillo. Coso de Sutullena.
Route 2; MUAL. muBBla. Plaza Calderón. MASS. Paso Morado. Huerto Ruano.
Children’s train from 17.30 to 19.30, MUAL, Plaza de Calderón, MASS and Coso de Sutullena.
Tourist office
Open in the Plaza de España from 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.30 to 22.00.
For more local information, including news and what’s on, go to the home page of Lorca Today.
Oficina de Turismo de Lorca
The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern City has built its tourism industry. Amongst these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish Quarter of the castle and Synagogue, Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.
Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as an earthquake which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011 and claimed 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.
The tourist office itself has temporarily relocated until the renovations are completed and is on Calle San Patricio near the church.
Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of, Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only through agricultural exploitations.
However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a series of parades in which the whites (Paso Blanco) and blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.
Lorca also has a Parador hotel, located within the complex of its historic castle.
Opening hours for Lorca Tourist Office:
- Monday to Friday: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.00.
- Saturday: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 18.30.
- Sunday: 10.00 to 14.00.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today