The Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero, known locally as CAHH, has quickly become one of the must-sees of the old town. It occupies the Palau de Valeriola, a seventeenth-century noble palace on Carrer del Mar that was painstakingly restored and opened as a museum at the end of 2023. The collection belongs to the Valencian businesswoman and patron Hortensia Herrero, whose foundation also funded the restoration of the Church of San Nicolás, and it focuses on contemporary art from the 1980s to today, much of it big, bold and site-specific. Works by internationally known artists such as Anish Kapoor and Tony Cragg sit in the historic rooms and courtyard, and several pieces were commissioned for the building, so walls, stairs and ceilings become part of the art. The mix of old stone and new work is the real pleasure: a palace courtyard, a grand staircase and restored rooms meeting sculpture, light and installation. The museum is compact enough to see in about an hour and a half, and tickets with an audio guide or with a live guided tour are sold online.
How to see it: start in the courtyard, then follow the route up through the palace floors. Take the audio guide or join a guided tour, since many works were made for specific spaces and the stories behind them add a lot. Leave time to look at the restored architecture itself, including painted ceilings and stonework revealed during the works.
What to expect: entry is by timed ticket, and numbers inside are controlled, so the galleries rarely feel crowded, but weekends and holiday periods sell out ahead. The building is accessible, with lifts between floors. Photography rules vary by work, so check signs as you go. Some pieces are immersive or very large, which makes the museum appealing even to visitors who rarely seek out contemporary art.
Making the most of it: Carrer del Mar runs from the cathedral towards the Plaza de la Reina and the Colegio del Patriarca, so CAHH slots neatly into an old town morning. Pair it with the frescoes of San Nicolás for an old-and-new contrast, then lunch in the surrounding lanes. Combination tickets with the City of Arts and Sciences and the Oceanogràfic are also sold.
What to expect
The experience
A timed visit through a restored Baroque palace hung with large contemporary works, with an audio guide or a live guide.
Best time
Weekday mornings; book ahead for weekends.
How long
About an hour and a half.
Tips
Book a timed slot online, choose the guided tour for the stories behind the site-specific works and check photo rules by each piece.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and repeat visitors looking for the newest big sight in town.
- Families
- Large, playful installations appeal to older children and teens.
- Couples
- An unhurried morning with the art, then lunch in the old town lanes.
- Pair with
- The Church of San Nicolás and Valencia Cathedral.
- Time needed
- 90 minutes.
Good questions
What is the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero?+
It is a private contemporary art museum in the restored Palau de Valeriola in Valencia’s old town. It opened at the end of 2023 and shows the collection of patron Hortensia Herrero.
Which artists are on show?+
The collection includes large works by international artists such as Anish Kapoor and Tony Cragg, many made for the building. Displays can change, so check the current selection when booking.
How long does a visit take?+
Allow about an hour and a half. The guided tour option runs for a similar time.
Do I need to book in advance?+
Entry is by timed ticket, and weekends often sell out, so booking ahead is wise. Tickets with an audio guide or a live guided tour are available online.
Where is the museum?+
It is at Carrer del Mar 31 in Ciutat Vella, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral. Most of the old town sights are within ten minutes on foot.
