Museu Nacional de Ceràmica González Martí

The Museu Nacional de Ceràmica González Martí is Spain's national museum of ceramics, housed in the Palau del Marqués de Dos Aigües at Carrer del Poeta Querol 2 in the old town of Valencia. The palace is the main attraction in its own right. Its entrance is a huge alabaster doorway in extravagant Rococo style, carved with allegorical figures, and it is among the most photographed portals in Spain. Inside, the rooms of the eighteenth-century palace display the museum's collection, which ranges from Roman and medieval pieces to the celebrated ceramics of Paterna and Manises, Valencian tiles and pottery from across Spain and examples of modern work. A reconstructed Valencian kitchen decorated with tiles shows how ceramics were used in daily life, and the upper floors give a sense of aristocratic interiors, with ornate ceilings and period furnishings. A typical visit takes one to one and a half hours, and late morning is a good time to come. The museum opens roughly Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00, with Sunday morning hours. Admission is about €3, with free entry on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, so those days can be more crowded. The best photograph of the portal is taken from the narrow street in front, ideally with some distance, though space is tight. The museum is a five-minute walk from Plaça de l'Ajuntament and close to Metro Colón and Xàtiva, so it is easy to combine with the Mercat Central, the Mercat de Colón and the Llotja de la Seda.