Cueva Museo de Alfarería La Alcazaba

Cueva Museo de Alfarería La Alcazaba is a small pottery museum set inside a genuine cave dwelling in Guadix, a town famous for thousands of homes carved directly into the rock. It sits right below the Alcazaba, the Moorish fortress overlooking the old town, and gives visitors a compact look at the region's long ceramic tradition.

What is this cave, and where does it come from?

The cave was hollowed out around the mid-15th century and originally served as part of the Alcazaba's working buildings — used as stables and storage space for the fortress. Like many rock-cut dwellings in Guadix, it was later inhabited by local families who adapted it for everyday living. In 1998 it was restored and opened to the public as a museum dedicated to pottery-making.

What will you see inside?

The collection holds more than 1,500 ceramic pieces, ranging from large storage jars known locally as tinajas accitanas — traditionally used for wine, oil, and grain — to small clay figurines called toricos de Guadix, a bull-shaped craft unique to the area. Alongside decorative pieces, you'll find everyday household items: cooking pots, bowls, baking moulds, and tools once used in clay production. One highlight is a preserved period well that originally supplied water to the whole fortress; it remains a focal point of the short walking route through the cave.

How do you get there, and what does it cost?

The museum stands on Plaza Padre Poveda, right in the historic centre of Guadix, a short walk from the cathedral and the main square. Guadix itself is about 50 km east of Granada, reachable by regional bus or train. Admission is minimal — a few euros for adults, less for children — and a visit typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.

When is the best time to visit?

Thanks to the natural insulation of rock-cut architecture, the cave stays cool in summer and comparatively mild in winter, a feature typical of Guadix's troglodyte houses. It can be visited year-round, but it's worth pairing with a walk through the rest of the old town and the nearby Barrio de las Cuevas, where cave houses are still lived in today. Mornings outside peak summer season tend to be quietest.

Why is it worth the stop?

It's one of the few spots in Guadix where cave architecture and local pottery craft come together in a single visit. The exhibition is modest in size, but it makes clear how the terrain and climate shaped not just how people built their homes here, but also what everyday objects they made and used.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? On Plaza Padre Poveda in Guadix, just below the Alcazaba hill, within the old town.

Is the cave original or a reconstruction? It's an original cave, carved in the 15th century as part of the fortress's working buildings and actually inhabited before being converted into a museum in 1998.

How long does a visit take? Usually 20 to 30 minutes — the exhibition is compact and focused on the ceramics collection.

Is it worth combining with other Guadix sights? Yes — the museum sits next to the Alcazaba, the cathedral, and the cave-house neighbourhood, making it an easy addition to a short walk through the historic centre.