What to do · Sierra de Aracena
Aracena Ham Museum
Information
- Price
- Own admission or with the Tarjeta Aracena Turística
- Duration
- 45 min
- Who it's for
- Everyone
What it is
A municipal museum on the Gran Vía of Aracena, right in the centre and about 150 metres from the Gruta de las Maravillas, which works as an interpretation centre for the Iberian pig. It is in a building of more than 1,600 m² that was built to be a museum of the sierra's popular arts and customs. It tells the story of the industry that feeds the whole district: the Town Council presents it as the main engine of its development.
What you will see
The route has seven rooms that follow the protagonist step by step: the raising of the Iberian pig, its life in the dehesa and its feeding, the traditional and industrial slaughter, the curing and making of the ham and its maturing in the cellar. It relies on panels and projections, and the audio guide is downloaded with a QR code.
Throughout the rooms is the Hams of the World exhibition, with pieces from different countries, which was put together for the 5th World Ham Congress held in Aracena in May 2009. The building also houses a mycological information point, one of eight in Andalusia, for learning about mushrooms, and a space devoted to the Sierra Morena with an audiovisual on the long-distance trail GR-48.
Hours and admission
It opens from 10:15 to 14:00 (last entry at 13:30) and from 16:00 to 18:45 (last entry at 18:15). It closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. Admission is sold on the Aracena Tourism website and is included in the Tarjeta Aracena Turística, which also adds the castle and the Geological Museum. The Town Council publishes the rates in a separate leaflet; the price is shown when you buy. Telephone: 663 93 78 70; email: [email protected]. The museum has a shop: to buy its products, the Town Council asks you to contact them.
How to fit it in
The convenient thing is to combine it with the Gruta, which is next door, and then climb to the castle. With children it works well because it is short, about 45 minutes, and visual. And if you plan to go to a Jabugo cellar, such as Cinco Jotas's, better to do the museum first: you will understand what they tell you there.
Tips
- Before a cellar visit Seeing the museum first helps you understand what you are told in Jabugo.
As a family
