National Archaeological Museum demonstrates "the scope and wealth of our common history", says Mariano Rajoy

President's News - 2014.3.31

The President of the Government officially opened the National Archaeological Museum (Spanish acronym: MAN) after six years of "extensive renovation work" in which the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport has invested over 65 million euros.

National Archaeological Museum, Madrid

Mariano Rajoy stressed that the MAN - re-opened to the public from today - is the "depository or our memory" and, as such, contains the most important pieces of our historical heritage. In his opinion, this museum is "an exceptional demonstration of a shared legacy that identifies us as a diverse and united people, and enables us to delve further into the knowledge of our past and our identity".

The President of the Government believes that the MAN is becoming "the museum that best represents the history of Spain; a public institution aimed at offering a rigorous, attractive and critical interpretation of the past. An interpretation of the meaning of the material culture that belonged to the various peoples that make up modern Spain and the Mediterranean region from ancient to more recent times".

Its collections represent "a common place in which to meet our past" and they make us understand "the scope and wealth of our common history", said Mariano Rajoy.

Significant remodelling work

Rajoy inaugura el Museo Arqueológico Nacional

Pool Moncloa

The renovation work has extended this museum from 7,000 square metres to more than 9,000 square metres. It contains over 13,000 archaeological, historical and artistic pieces in its exhibitions, with all the technical and communication resources to bring to life the value of the collections and facilitate understanding of their story.

The exhibition is organised around 40 halls on four floors and three main areas, all with highly varied volumes and content.

The new National Archaeological Museum is "a modern museum, open to society, capable of researching, restoring, documenting and spreading knowledge about all aspects related to the symbiotic heritage of this ancient nation that is Spain", said the President of the Government.