Malaga, city of museums without barriers

What to see in Malaga, merely referring to museums, has become a route that can take several days. Although what matters, if you are a visitor concerned about inclusive tourism, is that itself: inclusion. The city's museums are located in different spaces, in most cases refurbished buildings that have experienced a second life. Their accessibility, as well as programmes dedicated to visits for persons with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability, are now a reality. Never better said.

Picasso and his heritage, international and local contemporary art, 19th-century painting, archaeology of the city, history of the automobile…

Following the street signs we discover that the number of Malaga museums is varied and diverse, from the oldest Museum of Art and Popular Customs, dating to 1976, to the museums of the brotherhoods, and the one of modern painting near the Roman Theatre, and the Alcazaba dedicated to the figure of Pablo Ruiz Picasso.

- Picasso Museum Malaga. Interactive tours and artistic production workshops adapted to people with special needs are essential in the educational programme of the Picasso art gallery. In this sense, we must highlight the activities that promote interaction in groups with physical, psychological, sensory, intellectual or mental functional diversity. Developing social and emotional skills through the visual arts is not only therapeutic, but also involves the museum in its community. Regarding the facilities of the beautiful Buenavista Palace, we find an accessible entrance parallel to the main door, along with a lift and adapted toilets, audio guides, description audio tours, sign guides and magnetic loop for wearers of hearing aids or cochlear implants.

- Malaga Museum. The Aduana Palace hosts one of the best collections of 19th-century art (with works by Enrique Simonet y Lombardo, Moreno Carbonero and José Nogales Sevilla), as well as an important archaeological collection comprised of collections of the Provincial Archaeological Museum. Neoclassical architecture has enabled, despite its two floors, adapting these facilities to the 21st century. With a ramp included for contemplating exhibitions like the remains of the tomb of the Phoenician Warrior, one of its gems on display; and even reproductions of some archaeological pieces that may be touched and that are accompanied by signs in Braille. They offer accessible workshops for children and children with special capacities under the name "History for everyone”.

- Municipal Heritage Museum (MUPAM). The municipal collection is mostly pictorial, though the pieces of the 20th century are the most numerous; in fact, this space intends to bring contemporary art closer to the locals of Malaga and its visitors through temporary exhibitions. Its services include visits dedicated to people with functional diversity. 

- Gibralfaro Castle Visitor Centre. Its strategic location offers a magnificent panoramic view over the city, appealing to any self-respecting tourist. You can reach it by bus and it has parking spaces for persons with reduced mobility (PRM). Although the entrance has a curb of about four centimetres, the space is a single room, without slopes or obstacles. The bar terrace is accessible for wheelchair users.

- Pompidou Centre Malaga. The Spanish section of this important French institution occupies a space - the famous Cube in the Malaga Port- that has ramps and lifts to make its collection and temporary exhibitions accessible to everyone. Its programmes especially target new publics, and include activities focused on accessibility and integration (aimed at all ages).

- Contemporary Art Centre (CAC). Presiding, somehow, the Soho of Malaga, is the CAC. International, national, and also local contemporary art come together here, in the city's old Wholesale Market (declared of Cultural Interest in 1987). In addition to having people with functional diversity on its own team, it promotes accessibility with a specific programme of visits, with free guided tours with a sign language interpreter.

- Automobile and Fashion Museum. The Tabalacera building, dating from the 1920s of the last century, an example of the regionalist aesthetics of that time, hosts this two-themed museum. Known, mainly, for the collection of vehicles of Joâo Manuel Magalhaes, it exhibits pieces in a series of themed sections: belle époque, golden 1920s, art deco, etc. Since 2014, it has a system which has incorporated QR codes for mobile access to its video contents which, with sign language or voice, explain everything about the vehicles comprising the collection. The adapted visits include the option for blind users to touch the cars.