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Museum · Marbella, Andaluzia
Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
Museum devoted to Spanish printmaking, with works by Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Tàpies and Chillida, housed in the former Hospital Bazán, a 16th-century Renaissance building in the old town.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
The museum opened on 28 November 1992. It originated with the donation of more than two thousand prints by Professor José Luis Morales y Marín of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Marbella town hall provided and adapted the building. Today the foundation's holdings total around four thousand prints.
The collection covers Spanish graphic work in techniques such as aquatint, etching, lithography and woodcut. There are works by Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Tàpies, Chillida, Pablo Serrano and artists from the Grupo El Paso, such as Antonio Saura, Manolo Millares and Rafael Canogar. One gallery explains printmaking techniques in a didactic way.
The building is the former Hospital Bazán, or Hospital de la Encarnación. It was founded from the 1570 will of Alonso de Bazán, commander of the fortress, who ordered his houses to be converted into a hospital. The building is Renaissance with a strong Gothic‑Mudéjar imprint.
Inside, the hospital is organised around two courtyards, one of them with arches on columns, and it preserves three Mudéjar wooden ceilings. Outside, the lookout tower with ashlar arches stands out. Restoration began in 1989, and since 1992 the building has housed the museum. The museum also organises the National Printmaking Awards and has a print workshop.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour for the permanent galleries and the temporary exhibition on display.
Best time
At midday, especially from June to August when the heat outside is strong: it's a good refuge between a morning in the centre and an afternoon at the beach. Opening days and hours change: check before you go.
How to get there
It is on Calle Hospital Bazán, in the Casco Antiguo, about 200 metres from the Plaza de los Naranjos and close to the Iglesia de la Encarnación and the remains of the city wall. From the Estación de Autobuses it's about a 20-minute walk.
Tip
Check the official website for the current temporary exhibition. The museum offers guided visits by prior arrangement. Combine the visit with a walk through the old town, which is all around.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
Which artists are in the Museo del Grabado de Marbella?
The collection includes prints by Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Tàpies, Chillida, Pablo Serrano and artists from the Grupo El Paso, such as Antonio Saura and Manolo Millares, among many others.
Which building houses the museum?
In the former Hospital Bazán, a 16th-century building established following the 1570 will of Alonso de Bazán. It is Renaissance, with Gothic-Mudéjar influence, two courtyards and Mudéjar wooden ceilings.
How long does the visit take?
About 1 hour. The museum is in the old town, so it's easy to fit into a walk around Plaza de los Naranjos.