Museo de Arte Precolombino Felipe Orlando de Benalmádena

About the museum

The museum grew out of the private collection of Felipe Orlando García-Murciano, a painter, poet, writer and anthropologist of Mexican origin. Orlando donated his pieces to Benalmádena, his adopted home town, and turned his residence into the venue that opened to the public in 1970. He served as its curator until his death in 2001, and today the museum bears his name.

The pre-Columbian collection later grew through donations and deposits from other collectors and is organised into three areas: Mesoamerica (ancient Mexico), the Central Andes (ancient Peru) and the Intermediate Area, which comprises Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador. The museum is also a municipal museum and brings together archaeological finds from Benalmádena that trace the history of the municipality from its first inhabitants to the Roman period, with a section on underwater treasures recovered from a 19th-century shipwreck.

The building, in the historic centre of Benalmádena Pueblo, reopened on 27 April 2005 after refurbishment and a new exhibition layout. It also keeps a small collection of paintings by the founder and organises activities such as the Catrinas y Calaveras parade for the Day of the Dead.

Highlights

• Collections from Mesoamerica, the Central Andes and the Intermediate Area
• Display of Mesoamerican “mujeres bonitas” (“pretty women”) and female fertility figures
• Archaeological finds from Benalmádena, from the first inhabitants to the Roman period
• Underwater treasures from a 19th-century shipwreck
• Paintings by the founder, Felipe Orlando
• Free admission, guided visits and audioguides

Permanent exhibitions

• Colección precolombina – Archaeological pieces from Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador, arranged in the areas of Mesoamerica, the Central Andes and the Intermediate Area.
• Arqueología de Benalmádena – Finds from the municipality that show its history from the first inhabitants to the Roman period, with a section on underwater treasures from a 19th-century shipwreck.
• Pinturas de Felipe Orlando – Small collection of works by the founder, painter, anthropologist and key figure in Benalmádena's cultural life.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission, including for guided visits and audioguides.

Accessibility

• 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

The museum declares itself accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Free children's audioguides, workshops for children and adults and a wide range of educational activities; each year the Catrinas y Calaveras parade is held for the Day of the Dead.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, in Benalmádena Pueblo.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit