Tucked away in the corner of a plaza which itself lies tucked away behind the main street of Santa Cruz lies the biggest museum on La Palma. It’s vast, I kid you not. As the discreet banner outside declares, it has ‘paintings, natural sciences and ethnography’ although it doesn’t mention the half of it and there is no hint as to the scale of it all.
The museum is housed in the old Franciscan 16/17th century convent which borders the Plaza Santo Domingo. The entrance in the far corner is as discreet as the museum itself. It’s a vast and beautiful building and you’re going to be torn by all the different categories of exhibits.First up is the long hall which is filled with filled animals, by which I mean a taxidermy delight. And whilst I’m not really into looking at stuffed animals I still found it really interesting to see where the land animals and sea creatures had been found – either on La Palma or one of the nearby islands. So it’s a bit of history, geography and biology all rolled into one.
Then there is a room filled with scale models of various sailing vessels associated with the history of La Palma along with marine implements of the time. Open exhibits include hugh scales used for weighing bales.
Then there is a room filled with scale models of various sailing vessels associated with the history of La Palma along with marine implements of the time. Open exhibits include hugh scales used for weighing bales.
That leads nicely on to the hand tools used in agriculture. I had no idea there could be so many different types.Then a room filled with huge looms. And talking about moving between rooms, even the open corridors of the open quadrant will stun you – wide wooden floorboards of tea wood harvested from the pine forests of La Palma.
But there are still surprises to go such as the guitar room. Not quite what we were expecting but of course it’s not a room of ordinary guitars – it’s a room of guitars through the ages including a Timple (small 5-string guitar like a Ukulele) made from a cigar box labelled as ‘Santa Cruz cigars.’ Ah, the ever-inventive and resourceful Palmerans.
Opening times:
Monday to Saturday 10.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
Sunday 10.00 hrs to 14.00 hrs
July, August, September Monday to Saturday only 10.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs
Fiesta – closed
Last entry is 30 minutes before closure
Price 4€ per person
Monday to Saturday 10.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
Sunday 10.00 hrs to 14.00 hrs
July, August, September Monday to Saturday only 10.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs
Fiesta – closed
Last entry is 30 minutes before closure
Price 4€ per person
