Museo Santiago Rey Fernández-Latorre

Museo Santiago Rey Fernández-Latorre is an unusual press museum in Arteixo, a town just outside A Coruña in Galicia. Housed at the headquarters of the La Voz de Galicia media group in the town's industrial estate, it is one of the few museums anywhere devoted entirely to the history of journalism, from the earliest newspapers to modern printing technology.

Where exactly is it?

The museum sits at Avenida de la Prensa 84-85 in Arteixo, on the grounds of the publishing house behind the daily La Voz de Galicia. It's an unusual setting for a museum — surrounded by offices and industrial buildings rather than a historic old town — but it's only a short drive from central A Coruña, making it an easy add-on for anyone already exploring the city or the nearby Costa da Morte beaches.

What will you actually see inside?

The core of the exhibition is a room of roughly 1,200 square meters holding close to 5,000 newspapers and magazines from different eras and corners of the world — from local Galician titles to historic front pages covering events that shaped modern history. Every item has been digitized, which makes browsing and research considerably easier than flipping through fragile originals.

Alongside the print collection, the museum displays 38 machines used in newspaper production, ranging from old printing presses to typesetting and paper-handling equipment. It's a rare chance to see, up close, how a newspaper was physically made before the whole process moved to computers and screens. The exhibition effectively tells two stories at once: the content itself — headlines, special editions, historic reporting — and the machinery that once turned that content into ink on paper.

How do you get there?

Driving is the simplest option — Arteixo sits on the main roads out of A Coruña, and the trip from the city center usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. Travelers without a car can use local bus routes connecting A Coruña with Arteixo, though it's worth checking the current timetable in advance, since service outside peak hours can be limited.

When should you visit?

The museum runs on two seasonal schedules. From September to June it opens Monday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. In July and August, hours shorten and simplify to Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Admission is free, so it's an easy stop to slot into a day trip without any extra cost. Mornings tend to work best, since these are standard business hours for a corporate-hosted facility of this kind.

Who is this museum for?

It's a natural fit for anyone interested in media history, communication, and printing techniques, as well as travelers who enjoy offbeat, specialized museums away from the usual tourist circuit. Teachers and school groups will also find it useful — the collection offers an accessible, hands-on look at how the transmission of information has changed over the decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is admission free? Yes, entry to the museum is free.

Where exactly is the museum located? At Avenida de la Prensa 84-85 in Arteixo, inside the headquarters of the La Voz de Galicia publishing group, in the town's industrial estate.

How long does a visit take? Given the compact size of the exhibition space (about 1,200 m²), a visit typically takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace and interest in the exhibits.

Do you need to book in advance? Since the museum is located inside a corporate headquarters, it's worth checking current entry rules before visiting and, if possible, confirming opening hours by phone, especially for organized groups.