Museo Antonio Manuel Campoy

Museo Antonio Manuel Campoy is a contemporary art museum in Cuevas del Almanzora, a town in the Almería province of eastern Andalusia. It occupies part of the marquises' castle and houses a painting and print collection donated to the town by the art critic whose name it carries.

Who was Antonio Manuel Campoy?

Antonio Manuel Campoy was born in Cuevas del Almanzora in 1924. Trained in philosophy and letters with a background in broadcasting, he spent his career following contemporary art movements and writing criticism for the Madrid newspaper ABC. Over the decades he built a substantial private collection of modern works, which he later gave to his hometown. That donation became the founding core of the museum.

Where is the museum located?

The galleries occupy rooms inside the Palacio-Fuerte de los Marqueses, the castle of the Marquises of los Vélez that stands above Cuevas del Almanzora. The building dates to the late 16th century and blends late-Gothic with Renaissance features. The entrance sits on Plaza de la Libertad, within the castle grounds. The Municipal Archaeological Museum occupies the same wing of the palace, so both collections can be visited in a single stop at the castle.

What will you see inside?

The permanent collection spreads across seven rooms and includes roughly 400 works — paintings, etchings and other prints — by major 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, José Gutiérrez Solana and Antoni Tàpies. One room recreates Campoy's own study and personal library, offering a glimpse of the critic's working life and the collecting passion behind the museum. The space is compact, so a visit typically takes 30 to 60 minutes.

How do you get there?

Cuevas del Almanzora sits in the northeastern corner of Almería province, a short distance inland from the Costa de Almanzora coastline. Driving is the most practical option, with road links to Vera and Huércal-Overa. The castle housing the museum stands on a hill in the historic centre, visible from much of the town, and reaching it from the main square involves a short but steep climb.

When should you visit?

Given the museum's small size, it is worth checking current opening hours before setting off — like many small municipal museums, schedules can differ between weekdays and weekends or shift seasonally. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to pair a museum visit with a walk through the castle and old town, since inland Almería can get considerably hotter in summer.

Frequently asked questions

Is admission to the museum free? Small municipal museums in Andalusia often charge little or nothing for entry, but policies vary and are worth confirming locally before your visit.

How long does a visit take? The seven rooms are compact, so most visitors need only 30 to 60 minutes to see the collection at a comfortable pace.

Is there anything else to see in the castle? Yes — the Municipal Archaeological Museum shares the same wing of the Marquises' palace, and the late 16th-century castle itself is a notable piece of architecture worth a look.

Which artists are represented in the collection? Among the roughly 400 works are pieces by major 20th-century names, including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, José Gutiérrez Solana and Antoni Tàpies.