Having found myself spending three nights in Jaen (far too much time if you ask me), it has given me plenty of time to visit even the lesser-known places like the two local museums.
First off was the Provincial Museum of Jaen (also known as the Museum of Jaén), set in a beautiful 16th-century historical building just off one of the main traffic junctions in the city.
We had no issues getting in even with a pram, and they have a separate dedicated wheelchair access.
With my broken Spanish I managed to establish that the entry was free for EU citizens.
What’s Inside?
The Jaén Provincial Museum is basically a two-for-one deal. You get to explore a wide range of fine arts AND archaeology. So whether you’re into ancient artifacts or modern paintings, this place has you covered.
I will take you through what you can see inside and add photos from the visit. Feel free to skip to the section that interests you the most.
At the end of the article, you will find my recommendations on whether it’s worth a visit, and also details on where you find the museum (plus opening hours).
Archaeology Section
Let’s kick it off with the archaeology bit, shall we?
This section is like stepping into a time machine that takes you way, way back. You’ll find treasures from the Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages. These intricate pieces offer an invaluable glimpse into the Iberian culture that thrived in this region thousands of years ago.
Fine Arts Section
Art aficionados will be delighted to discover the Fine Arts section on the upper floor, which was also a personal highlight for me.
After spending over half an hour watching broken vases and jewelry in the archeology section, this was a welcome change that gives you plenty to admire.
The exhibition has different rooms divided by the periods (from 19th to 20th century), and offers a mix of different artistic styles from prominent local artists such as Rafael Hidalgo de Caviedes, Manuel Ángeles Ortiz, Rafael Zabaleta and Pedro Rodríguez de la Torre, among others.
Is it Worth a Visit?
Well, that depends.
If you’re into archeology and love learning about history, you will definitely find it very interesting. As I visited with two small kids, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to explore everything in-depth.
If you only have limited time to visit Jaen, for example, a single day, in that case, I would recommend skipping the museum in favour of the Jaen Cathedral, exploring the old town and visiting the Castillo de Santa Catalina, if nothing else just for the views.
As I mentioned there are two big museums in the city – the other one is the Iberian Museum. It has the largest collection of Iberian art in Europe. Unless you’re really a history buff and want to learn more about Iberian culture, I think you would prefer the Provincial Museum.
Getting There and Other Details
Location: Paseo de la Estación, 29, Jaen
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 09:00-20:00hrs. Sunday, Bank Holidays, 09:00-15:00hrs
Entry: free to EU citizens
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