Neon Clouds and Lion Cages: Valencia’s Palace of Surprises
Step into Valencia’s Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero and you’ll find a palace where centuries-old walls meet neon-lit clouds. Once a Muslim-era residence, later a butcher’s home, then a newspaper HQ, and even a nightclub with live lions, this Baroque gem now houses over 100 works by 50 artists, thanks to a $42 million restoration led by supermarket magnate Hortensia Herrero.
The art isn’t just hung—it’s woven into the palace’s bones. Site-specific installations, like Tomás Saraceno’s glowing cubes and Olafur Eliasson’s rainbow tunnel, transform ancient corridors into portals of contemporary wonder. Herrero’s collection, gathered in just over a decade, mixes Spanish talent with global heavyweights like Miró, Lichtenstein, and Hockney, ensuring that Valencians can experience world-class art without leaving their city.
Every corner of the CAHH pulses with a dialogue between past and present, local and international. Here, heritage isn’t just preserved—it’s reimagined, inviting visitors to wander through history’s layers and tomorrow’s visions all at once.
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