IVAM Institut Valencià d’Art Modern

The IVAM, the Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, opened in February 1989 and was the first museum of modern art in Spain. It was created by the Valencian regional government, with Tomàs Llorens as its founding director, and it sits on Guillem de Castro street at the western edge of the Barrio del Carmen. Blanca de la Torre has led it since 2025.

The core of the collection is a major group of works by Julio González, the Barcelona-born sculptor who pioneered welded iron sculpture and worked closely with Picasso. Around this core the museum has built a permanent collection of about 10,000 works covering 20th-century art, with strong holdings of photography, abstraction, pop art and Spanish and Valencian artists. Only part of it is shown at a time, and the museum is best known for its rotating programme of temporary exhibitions.

The building has an unexpected feature: its basement incorporates surviving sections of the city's medieval wall, uncovered during construction and used as a space for exhibitions. The contrast between the medieval stonework and the modern galleries above is one of the more memorable things about a visit.

Because the programme changes so often, check the museum website before you go to see what is on. A visit usually takes one to two hours, depending on the exhibitions. The IVAM suits visitors with an interest in modern and contemporary art and makes a good contrast to the Gothic and Baroque sights of the old town. It is also a good option on a hot or rainy afternoon, when the old town streets are less inviting. The website lists opening times, free entry times and current prices, and it is worth reading the short exhibition texts online first if you want to get more out of a visit.

The museum is a short walk from the Torres de Quart and the Turia garden, and the streets of El Carmen, with their bars, cafés and street art, start right outside. Turia metro station is close by, and the Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia is about ten minutes' walk to the south-west. Combine the IVAM with a walk through El Carmen for a full afternoon.