ARCHIVED - May 21 International Museums Day in Murcia
Free visits, tours, concerts, workshops and a host of other activities on one of the most popular nights of the year in the city of Murcia
In recent years the Night of the Museums has become one of the most popular dates on the calendar in the city of Murcia, and with pandemic restrictions having been lifted a very large turn-out is expected at the free events and tours which are being held on Saturday May 21.
In fact, 23 of the city’s museums are offering a total of over 200 activities between May 12 and May 22, but the main evening is on May 21, when many will be open until late at night and there are a host of free activities, workshops, live music events and other entertainments scheduled throughout the evening.
There is so much to see and do that it would be impossible to fit it all into one evening but the main venues and activities are listed here. The recommendation is to pick up a map and leaflet once in Murcia – the main tourist office is in Plaza del Cardinal Belluga, opposite the Cathedral - for further orientation.
NOTE: parking is unlikely to be easy, and the easiest plan is to park outside the city centre. The “disuasorio” car parks on the southern bank of the River Segura are probably the best bet!
NOTE: the guided tours listed are generally free of charge but prior booking is required in almost all cases.
The main venues on May 21 include the following:
• Museo Arqueológico de Murcia, Paseo Alfonso X el Sabio, 7, information and bookings 968 234602. Guided tour of the Neanderthals in Murcia exhibition at 18.00, prior booking required.
21.30: Brief half-hourly tours of the Neanderthals exhibition, until 00.30.
• Museo de Bellas Artes de Murcia (MUBAM), Calle Obispo Frutos, 12, information and bookings 968 239346. Open 10.00 to 14.00, 17.00 to 20.00, 21.00 to 1.00.
Guided tour of the “Materia y Forma” exhibition of works by Tomás Ruiz Planes at 22.00. Prior booking required.
Folk concert at 22.30 by Cooldesac.
• Conjunto Monumental San Juan de Dios, Calle Eulogio Soriano, information and bookings 968 214541. Guided tours at 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 17.30, 18.30.
• Museo Santa Clara de Murcia, Paseo Alfonso X el Sabio, information and bookings 968 272398. Open 10.00 to 13.00, 16.30 to 18.30, 21.00 to Interactive model of medieval Murcia during the morning and afternoon sessions.
Guided visits of the Moorish palace at 16.30, 17.00, 17.30. Prior booking required.
22.00: Concert by Óleo, music of the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Museo Salzillo, Plaza de San Agustín, 3, information and bookings 968 291893. Open doors 10.00 to 20.30. Vouchers for a pastel de carne (meat pie) and a beer handed out to all visitors while supplies last!
20.00: Concert by the Cuerda Saravasti quartet.
• Museo de la Universidad de Murcia, Calle Cartagena, 74, information and bookings 868 888561.
• Museo de la Catedral, Plaza de la Cruz, information and bookings 968 219713.
• Museo Ramón Gaya, Plaza Santa Catalina, information and bookings 968 221099. Brass quintet concert at 22.00.
• Museo de la Ciudad, Plaza Agustinas, 7, information and bookings 968 274390. Guided tours of the permanent collection at 11.00 and 12.00, register via museodelaciudad.murcia.es.
20.00: Concert by Efren Lopez & Kelly Thomá, part of the Murcia Tres Culturas festival.
• Palacio Almudí, Plano de San Francisco, 8, information and bookings 968 358600 ext. 50825. Guided tour of the exhibition of work by Manuel Frutos Llamazares at 19.30.
• Museo de la Ciencia y el Agua, Plaza de la Ciencia, 1, information and bookings 968 211998. A series of activities for children during the morning and afternoon.
Astronomical observation at 22.00.
• Museo Hidráulico Molinos del Río, Calle Molinos, 1, information and bookings 968 358600 ext. 50666.
20.30: Concert by Klezmerama, part of the Murcia Tres Culturas festival.
• Museo Alfonso X el Sabio, Avenida Don Juan de Borbón, 3, information and bookings 968 232040.
• Museo Cristo de la Sangre, Calle Princesa, information and bookings 968 344 361. Guided tours at 19.00 and 20.00, prior bookings required.
20.00 to 23.00: Live acoustic music.
Other venues
• Real Casino de Murcia, Calle Traperia, 18, 968 215399
• Sala de exposiciones Casa Consistorial, Glorieta de España, 968 358000
• Pabellón 2. Cuartel de Artillería, Calle Cartagena, 968 343376
• Museo de Moros y Cristianos de Murcia, Pabellón 2. Calle Cartagena 868 044570
• Museo Sardinero, Pabellón 2. Calle Cartagena, 968 352303
• Centro Párraga, Calle Madre Elisa Oliver Molina, 968 351410
• Sala Verónicas, Calle Verónicas, 4, 968 221668. Guided tours by artist Tomy Ceballos at 12.00, 18.00 and 22.00.
• Centro de visitantes de la Muralla, Plaza Santa Eulalia 10, 968 221612
• Casa del Belén, Calle Olivo esquina con Travesía Torre, Puente Tocinos, 968 301126. Flamenco recital by Julián Páez at 20.00, accompanied by guitarist José Ferrándiz Tomson.
For more forthcoming events in the Region of Murcia visit the What’s On section of Murcia Today.