Centro Cultural Plaza Vieja in Alhama de Murcia

Exhibition gallery and public library in Alhama de Murcia

Plaza Vieja, a small square at the foot of the hill on which the castle stands, was formerly the centre of social life in Alhama, and houses several important noble houses, one of which is now the Centro Cultural Plaza Vieja. This distinctive blue building was formerly the Town Hall, between 1923 and 1986, and has one of the best examples of the Coat of Arms of Alhama on the front of the building.

Nowadays, however, it has been converted to provide a home to temporary exhibition rooms and the municipal library, which is fully equipped with internet as well as a book loaning service, a reading room and a study room. 

Until the 1950s there was no running water in private homes, so the townspeople would come to this square to collect water from the Fuente del Caño and water-sellers would also draw water to deliver to homes further away. It´s a cool and comfortable place to stop for a rest when walking around the town, with a water pipe and seats still to be found in the corner of the Plaza.

A curious legend exists that early in the 19^th century a coffin arrived in Cartagena from an unknown destination, crossing Spain to La Coruña and stopping off in this very location. As it travelled it left in its wake a trail of bloody murders, bloodlettings and incidents of vampirism which formed what became known as the route of "horror", and who knows what legacy may have been given to the places where it stopped!. Local legends run riot when discussing the trail of what was left in Alhama that night, although the anecdote has never been confirmed through any documented evidence!

The building also houses the Sala de Exposiciones Plaza Vieja, which is used for exhibitions throughout the year.

Address: Plaza Vieja s/n, 30840 Alhama de Murcia

Telephone: 968 639806

Opening hours 

Exhibition rooms (only when exhibitions are in situ)

15th September to 27th May: Tuesday to Saturday 17.00 to 20.00.

28th May to 14th September: Tuesday to Saturday 18.00 to 21.00.

Library

Winter: Weekdays 9.00 to 13.30 and 16.30 to 19.30.

From 23rd June to end of August: Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00. Closed 1st to 15th August.

Study room

Winter: Weekdays 9.00 to 13.30 and 16.30 to 19.30, weekends 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 21.00.

23rd June to end of August: daily 8.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 22.00. 

The Plaza Vieja is one of the stopping-off points of the FREE ENGLISH language audiotour offered by the municipal tourist office (also provides street maps, leaflets etc) which can be followed by visitors at their leisure. Click for full information

For more local information in English about the municipality of Alhama de Murcia, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.