Museo Etnolóxico de Ribadavia

Museo Etnolóxico de Ribadavia is an ethnological museum in the historic heart of Ribadavia, a town in the province of Ourense in Galicia known as the traditional capital of the Ribeiro wine region and home to one of Spain's best-preserved Jewish quarters. The museum occupies the historic Pazo de Baamonde (also known as Casa da Fundación) at Rúa Santiago 16.

How do you get there?

Ribadavia sits in the heart of Ourense province, connected by main roads to both Vigo and Ourense city, making it an easy stop when exploring the Miño river valley. The museum is located inside the old town, within walking distance of the main historic landmarks, so the simplest approach is to park near the edge of the centre and continue on foot.

What will you see?

The museum was founded in 1969 at the initiative of Manuel Chamoso Lamas, then the regional commissioner for the protection of national artistic heritage, originally as a Museum of Popular Arts and Customs. For years it operated as the ethnographic section of the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Ourense before becoming an independent institution in 1993. It is now a state-run museum managed by the Xunta de Galicia.

Its permanent holdings bring together everyday objects from rural and urban areas of Ourense province dating from before industrial production methods took hold — farming tools, craft items and household goods. A distinct part of the collection is devoted to the wine-making culture of Ribeiro, fitting for a town that has long served as the historic capital of this wine-producing area. The museum also holds oral history archives, audiovisual material, and an extensive photographic collection documenting life and history in the Ribeiro valley. Current temporary exhibitions cover traditional textiles and folk clothing, ethnographic photography, and the region's popular music traditions.

It's worth pairing a visit with a walk through Ribadavia's old town, which has kept its medieval street layout along with a historic Jewish quarter — one of the most thoroughly documented in Galicia.

When should you visit?

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 20:00. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Admission is free. Visitors who want to consult the library or the museum's collections directly can arrange an appointment Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 14:30, by phone or email.

Spring and summer are the best times to visit, when the Ribeiro wine region is at its liveliest and Ribadavia's old town looks its most picturesque.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, admission to the museum is free for all visitors.

What are the opening hours? Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 20:00. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.

What makes this museum different from a typical regional museum? Alongside its core ethnographic collection from Ourense province, it holds a distinctive collection on Ribeiro's wine-making culture, plus an extensive photographic and audio archive documenting rural life in the area.

Can researchers consult the collections directly? Yes, the library and archives are available Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 14:30, by prior appointment via phone or email.