Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta

About the museum

The Granada painter José María Rodríguez-Acosta (1878–1941) almost completely stopped painting between 1915 and 1930 in order to plan, build and decorate his carmen (walled garden house) next to the Torres Bermejas, close to the Alhambra. The building, on which architects such as Modesto Cendoya and Teodoro Anasagasti and the sculptor Pablo Loyzaga worked, was declared a national monument in 1982.

The slope of the land gave rise to terraces and lookouts. The gardens have an iconographic programme built around symbolist themes such as love, death, ruin and the contemplative life. The main building was conceived as a painting studio and houses an art deco-style library with the artist’s collections: paintings, sculptures, ivories, carpets, ceramics and Greco-Roman and Iberian archaeological objects, as well as a remarkable group of Asian art.

Since 1941 the carmen has been the seat of the foundation the artist created in his will, now a public Andalusian foundation. Alongside it, the building designed by José María García de Paredes between 1978 and 1982 houses the Instituto Gómez-Moreno, with the legacy of Manuel Gómez-Moreno Martínez (museum, archive and library), and the foundation also holds donations from Maldonado and Martínez Rioboo.

Highlights

• Carmen studio from 1916–1930, national monument
• Terraced gardens with a symbolist programme
• The painter’s art deco library
• Greco-Roman, Iberian and Asian art collections
• Museum of the Instituto Gómez-Moreno

Permanent exhibitions

• El carmen-estudio y sus jardines – Guided route through the main building, conceived as a painting studio, with its library, and through the terraced gardens, courtyards and lookouts.
• Colección Rodríguez-Acosta – Paintings, sculptures, ivories, carpets, ceramics and archaeological objects gathered by the painter, with Greco-Roman and Iberian pieces and a group of Asian art.
• Colección Gómez-Moreno – Legacy of Manuel Gómez-Moreno Martínez in the Instituto Gómez-Moreno building, with archaeology, sculpture and painting from different periods.

Founded

1941

Operated by

Fundación Pública Andaluza Rodríguez-Acosta (Junta de Andalucía)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free visit on Fridays and Sundays at the 13:00 and 14:00 sessions, for individual visitors only and with a maximum of 2 tickets per person; it must be booked on the ticket website.

Free admission also for members of ICOM and ICOMOS and for teachers and group companions. Tickets are not refunded unless the suspension is due to reasons on the Foundation’s side.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Some parts of the carmen are not accessible for people with reduced mobility: in the gardens and the underground galleries there are changes of level that must be passed by stairs, so the route is very limited. It is advisable to call +34 958 227 497 (Monday to Friday, 10:00–14:00) to find out about alternatives before planning the visit.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Children under 12 enter free and children aged 12 to 15 pay a reduced admission, always accompanied. Baby buggies cannot enter and are left at reception; the Foundation has an educational programme for schools.

Getting there & parking

The carmen is on the Mauror hill, next to the Torres Bermejas and very close to the Alhambra.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Backpacks, large bags and baby buggies are left at reception during the visit.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit