Valencia Museums and Art Galleries

(Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela)



There are several very interesting historic buildings in Valencia's downtown area which have been restored and converted into small museums. These popular cultural attractions paint an excellent picture of what life was like in this important city during the 1700s and 1800s.

The local authorities have a keen interest in preserving the heritage of Valencia, putting a number of houses under the management of the Carabobo Museums Circle. The Casa Celis houses a nice art museum, and if you wander around the Plaza Bolivar you will run across a handful of other private art galleries.


Casa de Los Celis

Address: Avenida 104 Soublette, Valencia, Venezuela, VE
Tel: +58 0241 617 6867
Built in 1765 by a cavalry colonel, this colonial house is perfectly restored showing the typical architectural style of the era. When it was built, the Casa Celis was the talk of the town. Lavish dances were held here by the Colonel, and visitors can get a feel for how the wealthy lived in Valencia in the late 1700s. Today, the Museum of Art and History (Museo de Arte e Historia) is amongst the largest attraction on site. It contains paintings and sculptures by several notable artists. This house has a lot of history in it and is definitely worth seeing.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Casa Paez

Address: Avenida 98 Boyaca / Calle 99 Paez, Valencia, Venezuela, VE
Tel: +58 0241 857 1272
The former home of the very first president of Venezuela, General Jose Antonio Paez, is another of Valencia's showcase historic sites. Filled with a host of period antiquities and furnishings, the Casa Paez is today a museum-type attraction with many interesting features. On the walls of the interior of the house are huge mural paintings depicting battles in which the independence hero Jose Antonio Paez featured. This traditional home has all the usual period architecture of the 18th century, while perhaps rather unexpected is the resident prison, complete with a room for torturing its residents.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 17:30, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 14:00
Admission: free

Casa de la Estrella

Address: Calle 100 Colombia / Avenida Soublette, Valencia, Venezuela, VE
Tel: +58 0241 825 7005
One of the oldest and most significant houses in Valencia, this building has seen a lot of important history. Dating back to the early part of the 18th century and originally built as a hospital following the edicts of the Council of Trent, the Casa de la Estrella was later the place where Congress decreed its succession from Gran Colombia in 1830. Now, it is a noteworthy museum with a good exhibit on the history of Valencia as a town, including a short video presentation.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad)

Address: Avenida Miranda / Calle Rojas Queipo, Valencia, Venezuela, VE
Tel: +58 0241 824 1545
This little museum is dedicated to the city's history and is situated north of the downtown area, close to the Avenida Bolivar. Housed in a 19th-century complex known as the Palacio de Los Iturriza / Quinta La Isabela, the finely preserved interior of the palace is the actual highlight, with its opulent furnishings and decor. There are a series of rotating exhibitions on display at the Museo de la Ciudad, but they are not particularly engaging and somewhat overshadowed by the fine interior.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Baseball Museum (Museo de Beisbol)

Address: Centro Comercial Sambil, Manongo, Valencia, Venezuela, VE
Tel: +58 0241 841 1313
Located within the Centro Comercial Sambil, roughly 5 km / 3 miles to the north of the city centre, the Museo de Beisbol pays tribute to the world of baseball. All kinds of baseball paraphernalia can be found here, such as a pitching machine, various photographs and portraits, collectors' cards and the baseball-themed 'Mission Hall of Fame' (Mision del Salon de la Fama), honouring some of the country's biggest and best players.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 12:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 09:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children