Museo de la Ciudad

The museum described here is the archaeological and ethnological museum of Cuenca, in the old town on the high rock between the gorges of the Huécar and the Júcar. It is housed in historic buildings close to the cathedral, a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor and from the Casas Colgadas, the Hanging Houses that have made the city famous. Cuenca itself is a UNESCO World Heritage city, inscribed in 1996, because its medieval layout, built on a steep ridge above two rivers, has survived almost intact. The museum tells the story of the land and the people who lived on it long before the town of today existed.

The archaeology section is the core of the collection. It is arranged chronologically, beginning with prehistory, when hunter-gatherers lived in the shelters and valleys of the region, and moving through the Bronze Age and Iron Age. The Roman period receives particular attention, since the province of Cuenca contains the remains of three important Roman towns: Segóbriga, which had a theatre and an amphitheatre, Ercávica and Valeria. Finds from these places include sculpture, inscriptions, pottery, mosaics, glass and coins, and they illustrate public life, trade and daily routines. A numismatic collection shows how money circulated in the region across centuries.

The ethnology and fine arts sections provide a different perspective. Everyday objects, tools and costumes explain rural traditions in the Cuenca mountains and the plains, from farming and shepherding to crafts, while paintings and sculpture show how local artists responded to religious and civic commissions. The museum is modest in scale and offers a calm visit, with explanatory texts that can be quite detailed, so it rewards visitors who like to read.

The visit works as an introduction to the surrounding province. Many of the sites mentioned in the displays can be visited in the countryside, and Segóbriga in particular is an impressive archaeological park, a good excursion for those with a car. In the old town itself, the cathedral, the Mirador de San Pedro and the Casas Colgadas lie within a short walk of the museum, so you can combine it with an afternoon of sightseeing.

It suits history and archaeology enthusiasts, as well as travellers who want a quiet interlude in the old town. A visit takes around an hour. Opening arrangements change, so check the current schedule before you go.