MuVIM (Museu Valencià de la Il·lustració i la Modernitat)

The MuVIM (Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity) is an unusual museum: more than objects, it puts ideas on display. Devoted to the Enlightenment and modern thought, it sits in the Pilar district, a short walk from the old town, inside a sober, light-filled contemporary building by the Sevillian architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra.

History

The museum opened its doors in 2001. During construction, archaeological remains came to light in the surroundings, including a medieval tower, which now form part of the museum's own narrative and tie the city's past to its discourse on reason and modernity.

What to see

• "L'aventura del pensament" (The Adventure of Thought): the flagship permanent exhibition, an immersive journey through Western culture from the Middle Ages to today, with almost no objects or text, told through staging and audiovisual technology instead.
• The section on the València of Pare Tosca, with its 18th-century view of the city.
• The temporary exhibitions of design, photography and illustration, with a careful installation.

Practical tips

Admission is free, including the permanent exhibition, which makes it a solid pick among the free things to do in València. It usually opens Tuesday to Sunday; book ahead if you want the guided session of "L'aventura del pensament", which runs in timed slots. It's very close to the Jardín del Hospital and the centre's museum circuit.

Insider tip: go into the permanent exhibition with an open mind; this isn't a "look at the display cases" museum but almost a theatrical experience, and it works best if you simply let it carry you. Combine it with other free museums and check the guide on what to do in València to build a morning of culture without spending a cent.