Museo Insular de La Palma

About the museum

The Museo Insular de La Palma occupies the former convent of San Francisco, a 16th-century building in the centre of Santa Cruz de La Palma. Its architecture follows the traditional Canarian model and is organised around two courtyards with timber galleries: a small 16th-century cloister and a larger one from the 18th century. In the courtyard grow orange trees planted by the heads of state who attended the inauguration of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in 1985.

The museum was installed in the convent in 1986 and depends on the Cabildo Insular de La Palma. It brings together several sections: archaeology, ethnology, natural sciences and nautical history. It also houses the Museo de Bellas Artes, with Flemish works of the 16th century and, above all, painting from the 19th and 20th centuries, including nationally known artists such as Fortuny and Sorolla.

The ethnography section displays objects of the island’s domestic, agricultural and craft life (embroidery, silks, looms, ceramics), together with Aboriginal pottery, pre-Hispanic engravings and stone and bone tools. The Museo de Historia Natural presents collections of mineralogy and of terrestrial and marine fauna. In the same complex are the José Pérez Vidal Island Library and the General Archive of La Palma.

Highlights

• Museum of Fine Arts with Flemish painting and works from the 19th and 20th centuries
• Aboriginal pottery and pre-Hispanic engravings of La Palma
• Collections of mineralogy and Canarian fauna
• Former Franciscan convent with two courtyards of timber galleries
• Orange trees in the courtyard, planted in 1985 by heads of state

Permanent exhibitions

• Museo de Bellas Artes – Flemish works of the 16th century and paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries, with nationally known artists such as Fortuny and Sorolla.
• Museo de Etnografía – Objects of La Palma’s domestic, agricultural and craft life, plus Aboriginal pottery, pre-Hispanic engravings and stone and bone tools.
• Museo de Historia Natural – Collections of mineralogy and of terrestrial and marine fauna: mammals, reptiles and birds from the Canary Islands and other regions.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Cabildo Insular de La Palma

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Plaza de San Francisco is a pedestrian area; it is advisable to leave the car in the nearest car park.

Amenities & dining

The museum’s telephone extension is 2523.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.