Museum visits are generally for rainy days. Problem is, there aren’t that many rainy days on the Costa Blanca. So visiting the archaeology museum in Alicante (the MARQ) probably means sacrificing some sunshine.
But it is worth it. Alicante’s museum punches above its weight – it recently hosted an exhibition of Chinese Terracotta warriors, including nine actual soldiers brought from the excavations in Xi’an. It was a real coup for Alicante and the MARQ – the warriors don’t often leave China at all.
The MARQ is housed in Alicante’s former hospital. It won European Museum of the Year in 2004 and it’s still really good. If your idea of an archaeology museum is dusty pieces of obscure pottery with labels in spidery handwriting, then think again. The MARQ is as technically advanced and interactive as any.
The Romans were big in this part of the world, so there’s a great collection of Roman remains from all over Alicante province.
And the MARQ has just finished hosting a major exhibition called Ciudades de Luz (Cities of Light) which traced the origins of Alicante city from its foundation by the Ibero people right through to the end of the Roman Empire.
La Vila’s Roman villa
In the permanent galleries, there are plenty of Roman remains on show from our town, Villajoyosa/La Vila Joiosa, just up the coast from Alicante.
One of the big finds was the Roman villa of Xauxelles, near La Ermita on the outskirts of town. Most of it was excavated by a priest/archaeologist back in the 1940s, and it hasn’t been touched since, because (frustratingly) it lies on private property.
But even that limited excavation turned up some fascinating finds, which you can see in the MARQ. There are fragments of mosaic floors and beautiful carvings in stucco housed in subtly lit displays. Villa Xauxelles must have been quite a place back in the third century AD.
Behind the display cases are video panels running the length of the galleries, showing you what life might have been like for people living along the Costa Blanca in ancient times.
There’s even a large scale replica of a Roman ship in the central gallery, with walkways that allow you to move around the vessel, peer down into the hold and see the cargo of amphorae (storage jars).
Bou Ferrer – Villajoyosa’s Roman ship
It’s very like a real-life Roman ship that sank off Villajoyosa port in the 1st century AD. Named the Bou Ferrer after the divers who discovered it, the ship is the most important find of its kind in the entire Mediterranean. More info about the Bou Ferrer here. See my blog on the ancient history of Villajoyosa/La Vila Joiosa here.
Explanations are generally in Spanish, Valenciano (the local language) and English. There are plenty of other finds on show from all over Alicante province.
The little guy below is my favourite. He’s a votive offering to the gods, asking for health, protection or prosperity, and was found at a shrine excavated at Malladeta on the outskirts of Villajoyosa. Find him at the far end of the Ibers gallery. 
Bronze figurine from the 2nd century BC, found at Malladeta. He used to be on loan to Villajoyosa’s own museum – sadly, you now have to go Alicante to see him.
How to get to the MARQ museum in Alicante
The MARQ is on Plaza Dr. Gómez Ulla, round the back of Alicante castle. If you’re going by car, don’t bother trying to park on the street – it’s a real pain. Park for free in the Plaza Mar 2 shopping centre on the other side of the Avenida de Denia and take the five-minute walk across the footbridge to the museum.
Or take the tram and get off at the MARQ-Castillo stop. The museum is a short walk away.
More Alicante history
Check out these posts to discover more history along Alicante’s coast:
- Lucentum – the Roman Alicante and how it was saved from the bulldozers
- The Romans in Villajoyosa, just up the coast from Alicante
- Las Torres de la Huerta – the towers that protected Alicante’s medieval workforce
© Guy Pelham