Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Jerez

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1873 as the Depósito Arqueológico under the portico of the Cabildo Viejo. In 1935 it opened to the public as the Colección Arqueológica, and the discovery of the Corinthian helmet of the Guadalete in 1938, together with the excavations at Mesas de Asta, the ancient Hasta Regia, led to it being granted the status of Museo Arqueológico Municipal in 1963. It closed in 1982 because of the poor state of its facilities and reopened on 9 November 1993 in its current home on the Plaza del Mercado. Since 1997 it has been listed in the Register of Museums of Andalusia, and in 2005 it was extended.

The building is a late 18th-century palacete of the courtyard-house type, in the San Mateo district. From 1838 it housed a humanities school, which in 1851 became the first provincial secondary school (instituto), and later a school. After its rehabilitation the complex, arranged around three courtyards and covering about 3,200 m², became a museum.

The collection comes almost entirely from sites in the municipal area and is shown in three thematic blocks: “Jerez, antes de Jerez”, “Madinat Sharish” and “Xerez de la Frontera”. Each block is introduced by a short audiovisual, and there is also a quick route with thirteen masterpieces.

Highlights

• Corinthian helmet of the Guadalete, found in 1938
• Materials from the Mesas de Asta site, the ancient Hasta Regia
• Three thematic blocks: Jerez antes de Jerez, Madinat Sharish and Xerez de la Frontera
• Quick route with thirteen masterpieces
• 18th-century palacete with three courtyards

Permanent exhibitions

• Jerez, antes de Jerez – First block of the tour, with materials from Mesas de Asta (the ancient Hasta Regia), spanning from the 4th–3rd millennium BC to the Late Middle Ages.
• Madinat Sharish – Devoted to the Islamic city of Sharish, which emerged between the 9th and 10th centuries and became the main town of today's province of Cádiz during the Almohad period.
• Xerez de la Frontera – Third thematic block of the tour, devoted to the Christian city of Xerez de la Frontera.

Founded

1873

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Jerez de la Frontera

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Saturday of every month; 28 February (Andalusia Day); 18 May (International Museum Day); 24 September (local holiday); 23 November (anniversary of the reopening); 6 December (Constitution Day).

General admission €5; reduced admission €1.80.

Accessibility

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

Access ramps for people with disabilities, a lift and a signposted route; the Julián Cuadra room has an induction loop for users of hearing aids or cochlear implants. Only guide dogs are admitted.

Kids & families

School workshops, playful and creative in character, are held in their own space with capacity for about 30 pupils; there is also the programme “Conoce tu Museo” for educational centres.

Getting there & parking

Jerez airport (“La Parra”) is on the N-IV national road, km 641.

Amenities & dining

Large bags, umbrellas and backpacks are left at the ticket office. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside; there are litter bins in the open courtyards.

Events & venue rental

Up to 180 guests.

The Julián Cuadra room (about 200 m², capacity for 180 people) and the Sharish Shidhuna room (about 120 m²) host lectures, conferences, meetings and small-format exhibitions.

Plan your visit