MARQ Archaeological Museum of Alicante
Museo Arqueológico de Alicante (MARQ)
An archaeology museum that once won the European Museum of the Year award, using immersive displays to present Alicante from the Iberian and Roman periods to the Middle Ages.
MARQ is housed in the former Hospital of San Juan de Dios and won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2004. Its permanent exhibition is arranged into prehistoric, Iberian, Roman, medieval and modern sections, using light, sound and scene reconstructions to tell local history. Highlights include Iberian sculpture and artifacts from Lucentum, the Roman city. The museum also frequently hosts large international special exhibitions. It is about 1.5 km from the city center and can be reached by tram to the MARQ stop. A visit takes about 2 hours, making it suitable for rainy days or escaping the summer heat.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat about 10am–7pm; Sun morning; closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Santa Bárbara Castle
- Postiguet Beach
- Basilica of Santa María
- MACA Contemporary Art Museum
- Santa Cruz Quarter
- Co-Cathedral of St Nicholas of Bari
- Alicante Central Market
- Explanada de España