Museo Arqueológico de Baza

Museo Arqueológico de Baza is the municipal archaeology museum of Baza, a town in Granada province, tracing the area's history from prehistory through the Iberian, Roman, Visigothic and Arab periods up to the early modern era.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The museum sits in the old town of Baza, facing the town's main church, the Iglesia Mayor. It occupies two joined sixteenth-century buildings — the old town hall and the Alhóndiga, a former grain exchange — which were combined and refurbished to house the collection in 2011. Baza is roughly an hour's drive from Granada city and is also reachable by bus; the museum itself sits within easy walking distance of the town centre, right at the edge of the Geoparque de Granada region.

What will you see inside?

The exhibition spans eight rooms on two floors arranged around a central courtyard, covering more than a thousand square metres. Most of the collection comes from excavations at the ancient city of Basti — today's Cerro Cepero site — and from nearby Iberian necropolises such as Cerro Santuario and Cerro Largo, later supplemented by private collections and donations.

The centrepiece is a reproduction of the Dama de Baza, a stone statue of a seated woman from the aristocracy of ancient Basti, dated to the first half of the 4th century BC. The original is kept at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional in Madrid, but Baza displays a faithful copy alongside the story of its discovery in Tomb 155 of the Baza necropolis. Other highlights include grave goods recovered from the Bastetani necropolises, human skeletal remains, and pottery spanning the prehistoric, Iberian, Roman and medieval periods.

When should you visit and how long does it take?

Opening hours change with the season. From October to March the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–19:00, with the same hours on public holidays. From April to September it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30–14:00 and 18:00–20:00, again including public holidays. A visit through all the rooms typically takes 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how much time you spend in each themed section.

Who is this museum for?

It suits travellers interested in Iberian archaeology and the history of inland Granada province, especially anyone exploring the Geoparque de Granada who wants context for the surrounding sites, such as the necropolises at Cerro Santuario and Cerro Largo. Given its compact size and clear room-by-room layout, it also works well as a family outing paired with a stroll through Baza's old town.

Frequently asked questions

Is the original Dama de Baza on display here? No — Baza exhibits a faithful reproduction. The original 4th-century-BC statue is held at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional in Madrid.

How much does admission cost? Ticket prices and any discounts are worth checking directly with the museum or the local tourist office before your visit, since they can change seasonally.

Is the museum accessible for visitors with reduced mobility? The building is an adapted sixteenth-century structure spread over two floors around a courtyard, so it's worth asking in advance about lift or ramp access if that matters for your visit.

Are there other archaeological sites nearby? Yes — the area around Baza includes the ancient city of Basti and the Iberian necropolises of Cerro Santuario and Cerro Largo, the source of many of the objects on display in the museum.