MACA - Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante

The MACA (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante) is Alicante's foremost museum of modern and contemporary art, housed in one of the oldest surviving civil buildings in the city — the Casa de la Asegurada, a 17th-century limestone mansion on the Plaza de Santa María in the heart of the historic old town. The building dates from 1685 and is considered one of the earliest examples of civil Baroque architecture in the Alicante province, with a plain exterior that belies the richness of the collection within. The permanent collection at MACA was seeded by a significant donation made in 1976 by the Valencian artist Eusebio Sempere, who gifted the city a curated selection of major 20th-century Spanish works from his personal collection. The holdings now span printmaking, sculpture, painting, and mixed media from the early 20th century to the contemporary period, with important works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Jorge Oteiza, Eduardo Chillida, and other major figures in Spanish modern art. Temporary exhibitions complement the permanent collection and regularly introduce works by national and international contemporary artists to the Alicante audience. The museum's three floors are arranged around a central stairwell, with each room presenting a carefully curated selection. Entry is free for all visitors, making MACA one of the best-value cultural experiences in the city. The museum is located just 200 metres from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara lift on Playa del Postiguet and immediately adjacent to the Basílica de Santa María, one of the oldest churches in Alicante. Combining a visit to MACA, the basilica, and the castle makes for an excellent morning in the historic centre.