Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero

The Hortensia Herrero Art Centre (CAHH) opened in November 2023 and has become València's most talked-about museum, with attention reaching well beyond the city. It occupies the restored Valeriola Palace, a 17th-century Baroque building in the old town, and brings together the private collection of Hortensia Herrero, a businesswoman and patron of the arts, with over a hundred works by well-known artists.

History and what makes it special

The restoration took seven years and cost around 42 million euros. During the works a major surprise turned up: in the basement, remains of the Roman circus of Valentia came to light, now visible within the route, two-thousand-year-old stone set right next to today's art. The collection itself grew out of a personal passion: a visit to a Sorolla exhibition in the United States inspired Herrero to start collecting, first Valencian art, then international.

What to see

• Works by artists such as Anish Kapoor, Anselm Kiefer, Olafur Eliasson, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Manolo Valdés, Cristina Iglesias and Roy Lichtenstein.
• Site-specific installations made for the palace, such as the immersive piece by Tomás Saraceno in the entrance hall, with geometric shapes of iridescent acrylic glass, or Jaume Plensa's Tempesta.
• The remains of the Roman circus in the basement, and the palace's own historic rooms.

Practical tips

Admission is paid and it's worth booking online in advance, since time slots often sell out. The audio guide is included and genuinely helps with understanding the works. It's a few minutes from the Silk Exchange, the Plaza Redonda and San Nicolás, so it fits well into a morning through the old town: our guide to València in 3 days helps you plan the route.

INSIDER TIP: go up to the rooftop. Many people walk the galleries and leave without realising the palace has a terrace with rooftop views of the old town, the Micalet bell tower outlined in the distance; it's an almost secret way to end the visit, and not many people make it up there. Notice too how the works sit against the Baroque architecture: the centre is designed so each piece has its exact place. If you want more, pair it with the Fundación Bancaja or wander among other places in the city.