Museo de Arte Sacra de Santa María do Campo

Museo de Arte Sacra de Santa María do Campo is a small museum of sacred art in the old town of A Coruña, standing right beside the medieval Collegiate Church of Santa María do Campo.

Where is the museum located?

The museum sits at Porta de Aires 23, within A Coruña's Ciudad Vieja, the city's old town. It occupies a compact, modern building designed by architect Manuel Gallego Jorreto, built specifically to stand alongside the medieval collegiate church it adjoins.

What does the collection contain?

The museum displays more than one hundred pieces of liturgical silverwork belonging to the collegiate church - chalices, monstrances, reliquaries and other objects once used in worship. The display is arranged chronologically and by workshop or school, spanning pieces from the 16th to the 20th century that originate from different countries.

What is the standout piece?

Among the highlights are a Eucharistic casket and a monstrance donated by Queen Mariana of Neuburg, wife of King Charles II of Spain. It is one of the few pieces in the collection with a documented royal provenance, making it a particular point of interest for visitors.

When was the museum founded?

The museum opened in 1990, an initiative of Abbot Rafael Taboada Vázquez, then head of the collegiate church. It was created to give visitors access to a liturgical treasury that had previously been kept in the sacristy, out of public reach.

Why visit the museum together with the collegiate church?

The museum functions as a natural extension of the Collegiate Church of Santa María do Campo, one of the oldest churches in A Coruña's old town. The objects on display were actually used during services held in the church, so seeing them right next to the building they served helps explain their original purpose and liturgical context.

How should visitors plan their time?

The museum lies within walking distance of the main sights of A Coruña's old town, making it easy to combine with a stroll through Ciudad Vieja. Because the display occupies a single exhibition room, a visit typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. Opening hours are limited, so it is worth confirming them by phone before visiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Museo de Arte Sacra de Santa María do Campo? It is a museum of sacred art in A Coruña, displaying a collection of liturgical silverwork belonging to the neighboring Collegiate Church of Santa María do Campo.

Where exactly is the museum? At Porta de Aires 23, inside A Coruña's old town (Ciudad Vieja), in a building attached to the collegiate church.

What does the collection include? More than one hundred silver liturgical objects - chalices, monstrances and reliquaries from the 16th to 20th centuries, including a monstrance donated by Queen Mariana of Neuburg.

When did the museum open? In 1990, on the initiative of Abbot Rafael Taboada Vázquez.