Evaristo Valle Museum

The Evaristo Valle Museum is a small but atmospheric museum in Somió, a quiet district of Gijón, entirely dedicated to the work of Asturian painter Evaristo Valle. Set on the grounds of the former La Redonda estate, surrounded by a sprawling park, it's the kind of place where art, family history and nature come together in a single visit.

Who founded the museum?

The museum's story is really a story of family devotion. The foundation was established in 1981, and the museum opened its doors to the public on March 5, 1983. Behind it stood María Rodríguez del Valle, the painter's niece, who after his death in 1951 spent years preserving his paintings, personal belongings and documents. Because the collection was assembled by someone who knew the artist personally, rather than by an anonymous institution, the museum has an intimate, almost domestic feel rare among art collections of this size.

What will you see inside?

The heart of the exhibition is a collection of over two hundred works by Evaristo Valle, created between 1903 and 1951 — essentially spanning his entire creative life until his death. Among the most recognized pieces are "The Orgy" from 1903 and "Pierrot" from 1912, works that trace the evolution of his style from early, darker compositions toward more mature, symbolic canvases.

The museum also holds an unexpected surprise unrelated to painting: an impressive shell collection, started by the painter's father around 1850. Gathered from the seas of China and the Caribbean, it now numbers more than 2,500 specimens across 700 different species. It's an unusual find in a museum built around a single painter, and worth setting aside a few minutes for during your visit.

What does the building and setting look like?

The museum complex is made up of two buildings. One was built in 1971 specifically to serve as a museum; the other is a 19th-century palace, remodeled in 1942 and later adapted for exhibitions. Both stand within historic gardens blending French and English styles, covering more than 16,000 square metres. The grounds hold 120 different species of trees and shrubs, most of them native to the region — for many visitors, walking through the park is just as memorable as the gallery itself.

How do you get there?

The museum sits at Camino de Cabueñes 261, in Somió, on the outskirts of Gijón. It's a quiet, green part of the city, far enough from the centre to feel like a different pace of sightseeing, without the crowds typical of Gijón's main attractions. Getting there by car or taxi from the city centre usually takes only about fifteen minutes.

When is the best time to visit?

The gardens look their best in spring and early summer, when the vegetation is in full bloom and a walk among the trees becomes an attraction in its own right. In autumn, the park takes on warm, characteristic foliage colours that also draw photographers and nature lovers. Given the museum's intimate scale, it's worth planning your visit with enough time to spare — this isn't a place to rush through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Evaristo Valle known for? He was an Asturian painter whose active career spanned 1903 to 1951. The museum displays over two hundred of his works, including his best-known pieces, "The Orgy" and "Pierrot."

Is there anything in the museum besides paintings? Yes. Alongside the paintings, the museum holds a collection of more than 2,500 shells from the seas of China and the Caribbean, started by the artist's father, as well as extensive historic gardens.

Where exactly is the museum located? At Camino de Cabueñes 261, in Somió, a quiet district on the outskirts of Gijón in Asturias.

How much time should I set aside for a visit? Plan for at least an hour, given the exhibition spread across two buildings and a walk through the more than 16,000-square-metre park surrounding the museum.