Museo do Traxe Juan José Linares

Museo do Traxe Juan José Linares is a costume museum in Ordes, a small town in Galicia roughly 30 km from A Coruña. It occupies a restored building on Praza da Feira and holds one of Spain's most significant collections of historical and folk clothing.

Where does the collection come from?

The museum's holdings come from a donation by Juan José "Juanjo" Linares (1933–2009), a dancer, choreographer and researcher of Spanish folk dance born in Ordes, who spent decades collecting costumes from Spain and abroad. The foundation set up in his name handed the collection to the Ordes municipality, and the museum opened to visitors in January 2010. Among the pieces on display are stage costumes once worn by well-known figures of Spanish dance and performance, including Antonio Gades and Rocío Jurado.

What will you see inside?

The full collection runs to more than a thousand garments, of which around 250–260 are shown at any given time on permanent display; the remainder is kept in storage and occasionally brought out for temporary shows. The oldest pieces date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Alongside folk and dance costumes from various Spanish regions and other parts of the world, the museum also holds Linares' second major collection — around 400 crosses — displayed as a separate section of the visit.

The building has three floors, housing not only the exhibition rooms but also an auditorium, a library, a reading room, storage space and an administrative office. The two exhibition halls are organised thematically: one focuses on historical and regional dress, the other on stage costumes and dance accessories.

How do you get to Ordes?

Ordes sits on the main road connecting Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña, making it a convenient stop for anyone driving between the two cities. The town also has bus links to both. The museum stands right in the centre of Ordes, on Praza da Feira, close to the town's other services, so it's an easy walk once you've parked.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum is open every day except Mondays, from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00; on Sundays and public holidays it closes in the afternoon. A visit typically takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you spend at each display case. It's worth checking Ordes' local events calendar, since the museum occasionally hosts temporary photographic and themed exhibitions — for instance ones linked to the Camino de Santiago — which can add extra interest to a stop here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Museo do Traxe Juan José Linares? It's a museum dedicated to folk and dance costumes, built around the private collection of dancer and choreographer Juan José Linares, which he donated to the Ordes municipality.

How many costumes are on display? Around 250–260 costumes are shown in the permanent exhibition, though the full collection numbers more than a thousand pieces, with the rest kept in the museum's storage.

Is there anything besides costumes to see? Yes — the second part of the Linares collection is a set of roughly 400 crosses, displayed separately from the clothing exhibits.

How long does a visit take? A standard visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The museum is compact, so it doesn't require a full day and pairs well with other stops in and around Ordes.