MUBAG — Museu de Belles Arts Gravina

MUBAG is the fine arts museum of the province of Alicante, housed in the 18th-century palace of the Count of Lumiares in the old town. The collection focuses on painting and sculpture linked to Alicante, from earlier centuries to the early 20th century, with a strong emphasis on the 19th century. Alongside the permanent display, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions.

The fine arts museum of the province of Alicante is housed in the old town, in the 18th-century palace of the Count of Lumiares, also known as the Gravina Palace. The four-storey building went up between 1748 and 1808 and is listed as a historic-artistic monument. It stands between the old Postiguet wall and the Santa María steps. In 1998–2001 the palace was restored and joined to an adjacent building of similar style, and the museum opened here in 2001. The restoration aimed to preserve the palace's original style, and a grand staircase with an ashlar stone vault still separates the main floor from the service areas. The collection belongs to the provincial council (Diputación de Alicante) and numbers nearly 500 works. It covers painting and sculpture linked to Alicante from earlier centuries to the first decades of the 20th century, with a strong focus on the region's artistic heritage. The 19th century is the best represented: history painting, genre scenes, portraits and landscapes. Artists include Antonio Gisbert, Joaquín Agrasot, Emilio Sala, Lorenzo Casanova, Fernando Cabrera, Emilio Varela and Joaquín Sorolla, as well as Vicente López and Francisco Salzillo. In 2024 the heirs of the painter Lorenzo Aguirre donated 115 of his works to the museum. Temporary exhibitions are held on the ground floor and in the basement of the newer section. It makes a good break while exploring the old town; visitors praise the rich collection of paintings from different periods, especially by Alicante artists. Visitors point out that photography is not allowed in the galleries, and one adds that this applies even without flash. According to reviews, about an hour is enough to see the several floors, and one visitor found it quiet on a weekday. Some note that the lockers and vending machines are in a basement that is not wheelchair accessible, although the entrance and toilet are adapted.