Numerous personalities and high positions of the Army inaugurated last July 19, 2010 the Museum of the Army of Land in the Alcazar of Toledo. A new point of tourist interest for the city, which adds to the many attractions of Toledo as a city-museum.
Years ago the former Alcazar museum was closed, also as a museum dedicated to the army and specifically to the siege to which it was subjected during the Civil War. The upper floors have been open housing the exceptional Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha, one of the most important in Spain. With some controversy over the reforms and the “addition” of new premises, after several years of work, the new Land Army Museum is opened to the public today, 20 July.
The Minister of Defence, Carme Chacón, recalled during her speech that the collections housed in the new Army Museum, moved “from the centenary headquarters of the Hall of Kingdoms”, make it one of the three most important military history museums in the world.
According to the minister, more than 6,500 pieces of armour and antique weapons, uniforms, artillery, miniatures, flags, decorations and works of art are exhibited in the museum, making its permanent collection, according to the minister, of exceptional value, “One of the three most important military museums in the world”.
The Museum of the Army has more than 10,000 square meters distributed in different exhibition halls that allow to cross the history of Spain through its armies, distributed by thematic routes like ‘Spain and its military history’, ‘The Military Organization and its men’, ‘The Material Means’, ‘The Art of the War’ and ‘Army and Society’. In addition, the museum exhibits in its interior 2,100 square meters of archaeological remains of the historic building of Alcazar de Toledo, from its first construction to more modern remains, all together with the exhibitions.
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The periods of the Republic, Civil War and Francoism have been dealt with with with special care by the historians who have advised the museum project. All are represented in the museum, including pieces such as Franco’s funeral mask, parts of the Blue Division or the motorcycle with whose engine bread and weapons were made during the siege that the Alcazar suffered in the first three months of the Civil War. Also included in the tour is the office used by General Moscardó before and during the siege.
The ticket will cost 5 euros, being on Sundays the free access.
Timetable: 1 October to 31 May: 10am-7pm; 1 June to 30 September: 10am-9pm. Ticket offices will be closed 30 minutes before the museum. On Sundays, the opening hours will be from 10:00 to 15:00, and will be closed on WEDNESDAY (including holidays), 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December and those days determined by some special circumstance or relevant fact, which will be informed to the public in advance.
We advise you to consult the page www.museo.ejercito.es to know prices and updated opening days, to avoid problems to the visitor.
The address of the Museo del Ejercito is: c / Unión, s/n ; 45001 Toledo. The entrance to the Museum will be through Alféreces Provisionales street, s/n and the telephone number is 925 388 000 and fax: 925 238 915.* These details are subject to change, consult the official website.
Sources:
News in JCCM.es
News in ABC.es
Toledo City Council
Official website: www.museo.ejercito.es (we recommend virtual tours)
More about the Alcázar de Toledo
