What to do · Cáceres
Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- All year, closed on Mondays
- Who it's for
- Adults and teenagers
What it is
The museum of the contemporary art collection of the gallery owner Helga de Alvear, in the heart of Cáceres' old town. It began in 2010 as the Visual Arts Centre in the Casa Grande, a restored Art Nouveau building, and in 2021 it opened a new building designed by Tuñón Arquitectos, the studio of Emilio Tuñón that also designed the nearby restaurant Atrio and the MUSAC in León. Since then it has been called the Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art.
The new building is on the line that separates the World Heritage city from the modern part: white concrete pillars, oak wood, angular forms and lots of natural light, with a public pedestrian passage linking Calle Pizarro with Camino Llano and recovering the gardens of the plot. It has four floors of galleries, and a corridor with an auditorium on the top floor links it with the Casa Grande, which holds the temporary exhibitions, the library and the workshops.
What you will see
The Helga de Alvear collection brings together nearly 3,000 works, and about 200 are displayed at once in the museum, according to Turismo de Extremadura, with names such as Picasso, Kandinsky, Tàpies or Ai Weiwei. A semi-permanent selection is now on show titled "Can the Archipelago Enter the Museum?". In the Casa Grande, from 11 December 2026 to 23 May 2027, the temporary exhibition "Dreamwork: The Echo of Ancestors in the House of Tomorrow", curated by Omar Kholeif. Allow an hour and a half to see it in peace.
Hours and price
Admission to the museum and the exhibitions is free. From 1 October to 31 May it opens Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00; from 1 June to 30 September, Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00. On Sundays it is always open 10:00 to 14:30. It closes on Mondays, except those of national long weekends, and on 1 January, 1 May, 25 December and the day of the local fair of San Fernando; on 24 and 31 December it closes in the afternoon.
You do not need to book and tickets can be taken at the box office, but the museum recommends online booking to be sure of a place, especially at weekends and public holidays. The guided visit costs €5, and on Sunday morning it is free for everyone. There are creative workshops for children and activities in the monthly agenda. For groups, [email protected]; phone, 927 626 414.
How to get there
The collection is visited in the new building, with entrance on Calle Pizarro 10, and on Plaza Marrón, beside Camino Llano. From the Plaza Mayor it is a short walk through the old quarter. If you are staying at Atrio, it is close, and the architecture is by the same studio.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Helga de Alvear Museum cost?
It is free. Book if you go at the weekend; the guided visit costs €5 and on Sunday morning it is free.
Where is it?
On Calle Pizarro 10, in the old town, with another entrance on Plaza Marrón.
Is it open on Sundays?
Yes, from 10:00 to 14:30. It is closed on Mondays.
With teenagers
