MUSEUM OF FAIRS FOUNDATION

Information: 983 83 75 27

 

The Museum of Fairs is installed in the old Church of San Martín, building founded in 1512 by the courtesans of the Catholic Monarchs, Pedro de Ribera and María de Medina. Of note within it is its extraordinary mudejar framework.


It is sought, within the Museum, to reflect the importance commercial activities had, and still have, for the economy, culture and art in society, taking as its expository script the world of the renowned fairs of international reach held in Medina del Campo during the XV and XVI centuries. To this effect, an extraordinary collection of artistic, historic and documentary pieces are exhibited in relation to the market fairs, without forgetting the incorporation of modern techniques of communication, with multi-vision audiovisuals, videos, graphic panels, interactive information points and models with various illuminations.

The Museum has six spaces dedicated to the most important aspects of the historical fairs of Medina. To begin with, the visitor is introduced to the history of the markets and the urban scenario that accommodated those trade fairs towards the end of the Middle Ages and beginnings of Modernity; the wool and textile market, the art trade, printing and the book trade, the “diversity of trades and merchandise” and, lastly, the exchanges and money markets which gave Medina del Campo international financial projection, are the chapters covered in a tour of a thematic nature.

Principal Pieces

- Sculpture of Fr. Lope de Barrientos. Anonymous, c.1450
- Triptych of the Holy Family. Marcellus Coffermans, c.1570
- Relief of the Pieta. Juan de Juni, 1575
- Tapestry with biblical scenes. Brussels workshop, c.1570
- Portraits of Simón Ruiz and his wife. Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, 1595
- Double excellence (reign of the Catholic Monarchs). Ceca de Sevilla, 1497-1537
- Money-changers boxes and sets of weights and measurements. Diverse workshops, XVI and XVII centuries
- Altarpiece of the Virgen del Pópulo. Anonymous Castilian, around 1520

The Museum of Fairs Foundation undertakes many activities, amongst which of note are: temporary exhibitions, annual cycle of “The Piece of the Month”, scientific and informative publications, research projects, programmes of didactic action, monographic courses and conferences, etc. On the other hand, it also assumes management of the Municipal Archive of Medina del Campo, where important historical resources are stored, generated by the Comunidad de Villa y Tierra de Medina from the XV century onwards. It also hosts other archives of a historic nature, documentaries and graphics.
The Foundation Board is made up of the Town Council of Medina del Campo, the Council of Valladolid, the Regional Government of Castilla y León and the University of Valladolid.

From Tuesday to Saturday:
Mornings: 10:00 h. – 13:30 h.
Afternoons: 16:00 h. – 19:00 h.

Sunday and holiday:
Mornings: 11:00 h. – 14:00 h.
Closed Monday and Public Holidays. The Museum closes January the 1st and 6th, April 23th, September the 2nd, December the 25th.

Tickets and Rates
General: 2 €
Reduced Price: 1 €
*Groups over 25 people; over 65’s; members of Friends of Museums Associations; holders of “youth cards”; members of the Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León.
Free entrance: 0 €
* Members of Professional Museum Associations; the unemployed with accreditation; under 10’s accompanied.

Guided tours must be booked in advance.

More Information:
C/ San Martín, 26 - 47400 Medina Del Campo
fundacion@museoferias.net
www.museoferias.net [+ details]