Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias "González Martí

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The alabaster entrance features figures representing the Turia and Júcar rivers, symbolizing the water sources of Valencia.

2. 2

   The palace interior showcases original 19th-century ballroom decor, including preserved gold-leaf ornamentation.

3. 3

   Manuel González Martí, the museum's founder, was an avid collector of traditional Valencian tiles known as 'socarrats'.

4. 4

   The collection contains several rare pieces of 18th-century Alcora porcelain, considered the highest-quality ceramic production in 18th-century Spain.

5. 5

   The building's Rococo facade was added during an 1867 renovation to reflect the status of the Marquis of Dos Aguas.

Overview

The Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí is housed in the Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas, a 15th-century building transformed into a Rococo-style masterpiece in the 18th century. Its exterior is defined by a distinct, intricately carved alabaster doorway designed by Ignacio Vergara and Hipólito Rovira. The museum's collection focuses on ceramics from the prehistoric period through the 20th century, including significant regional Valencian pottery. Visitors traverse opulent rooms decorated with period furniture, silk-clad walls, and elaborate ceiling frescoes. The museum was founded in 1947 by Manuel González Martí, who donated his private collection to the Spanish state. The interior features the recreated carriages of the Marquis, including the 18th-century Carriage of the Nymphs. The site serves as a prime example of high-aristocratic domestic architecture in Spain.

Insider tips

• Prioritize viewing the palace's ground-floor rooms first, as they contain the most ornate historical furniture and the carriage collection.

• Check the upper floors early in your visit, as the museum layout is vertical and can become crowded in the narrow hallways.

• Look for the smaller, intimate private chapels within the palace for unique period architectural details.