Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero: Valencia’s Dazzling Contemporary Art Gem

Housed in the restored baroque Palacio Valeriola, the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero brings world-class contemporary art into the historic heart of Valencia. This exceptional space pairs cutting-edge installations with a meticulous architectural restoration that feels as curated as the collection itself.

Tucked inside the baroque Palacio Valeriola in the heart of València, the Fundación Hortensia Herrero has turned a once-fading aristocratic residence into one of Spain’s liveliest stages for contemporary art and heritage restoration. Established in 2012 by patron and Mercadona vice president Hortensia Herrero, the foundation pairs blue-chip international works with a strong commitment to local culture.

Right now the Centro is still showing the inaugural presentation of the Hortensia Herrero Collection across the restored Palacio Valeriola, with more than 100 works by over 50 international contemporary artists installed as a single, wide-ranging collection display rather than a set of small, separate temporary shows. This includes major pieces and site-specific installations by artists such as David Hockney, Olafur Eliasson, Jaume Plensa, Cristina Iglesias, Mat Collishaw, Anish Kapoor, Andreas Gursky and others. But it’s not only these art stars that pack a punch – the centre also presents beautiful excavated remains that were found during the restoration of the palace. We can see Roman and Islamic Valencia uncovered in the basement area.. it is presented at the highest quality.

Not only that but Herrero has also collected many of the works presented at the Abierto València annual art exhibition and is displaying them currently in the centre. There are many high-quality pieces in there, giving a wonderful flavour of the diverse and powerful art that the city is producing on a regular basis.

The CCHH opened in November 2023 so it’s still a new player on the art scene but it is punching way above its size in terms of the quality of both the building and what’s inside it . Hortensia Herrero’s aim is to share internationally acclaimed contemporary art with Valencia, and turn the city into a leading cultural centre. This is one of the most beautiful private collections in Spain, now in a museum in the heart of the old town of Valencia. It is one of the very best examples of a private cultural space for public enjoyment.

I have been twice, paying the value-for-money 12 € entry.