Museo do Mar de Galicia

About the museum

The Museo do Mar de Galicia opened in 2002 at the Punta do Muíño, in the Alcabre district of Vigo. It occupies the site of the former Alcabre-Molino de Viento cannery, dating from 1887, which later served as the municipal slaughterhouse. In 1992 the Xunta de Galicia commissioned the preliminary design from the Italian architect Aldo Rossi and the Galician architect César Portela; after Rossi's death, Portela designed the complex visitors see today: the former factory, a new block of halls, the tavern, the aquarium and the lighthouse.

The museum traces the use of and knowledge about the sea throughout history. The galleries cover fishing, shellfish gathering and aquaculture, methods of preservation from salting to freezing, the evolution of boats, the merchant navy and oceanography. The skeleton of a sperm whale stranded in Sanxenxo and a replica of the ship Beagle form part of the route.

The complex also includes an aquarium, which reproduces on a small scale the passage from the coast to the estuary and the Cíes Islands, a jetty, a garden and the remains of a hillfort (castro) at the Punta do Molino de Viento. The Fundación Museo do Mar de Galicia also runs the Centro Arqueológico del Arenal “Salinae”.

Highlights

• Route through fishing, fish preservation and the Galician merchant navy
• Sperm whale skeleton from Sanxenxo and replica of the ship Beagle
• Aquarium with the ecosystems of the coast, the Ría de Vigo and the Cíes Islands
• New exhibition “Caminos por mar a Compostela”
• César Portela building on a former cannery, with jetty, lighthouse and garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Trabajando en el mar – Tour of fishing gear, catching methods, fish preservation and the marketing of seafood products.
• 25 siglos de oceanografía – History of knowledge of the marine environment from antiquity to modern exploration, with the replica of the Beagle and the sperm whale skeleton.
• Caminos por mar a Compostela – Permanent space on the pilgrimage and sea routes to Compostela, which also shows the interior of the hillfort at the Punta do Molino de Viento and the chimney of the former cannery.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Fundación Museo do Mar de Galicia

Director

Marta Lucio

Admission & discounts

The ticket is valid for one day and the general admission gives access to all facilities. The aquarium and temporary exhibitions also have their own rates.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

Parking for people with reduced mobility inside the site.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The museum organises activities for all audiences and for families, such as puppet theatre and storytelling, as well as school visits. The toilets have baby-changing facilities.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Restaurant O Croque (also available for hire for events), shop, left-luggage and tavern. Public outdoor car park.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum's restaurant can be hired for events.

Plan your visit