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17 October 2024

Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero: Contemporary Art in Valencia’s Historic Heart

In the vibrant heart of Valencia, the restored Palacio Valeriola now hosts the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero (CAHH), a prestigious space made possible by Valencian philanthropist Hortensia Herrero. After five years of intensive renovations and a €40 million investment, this historic palace emerges as a cultural landmark, drawing contemporary art lovers from around the globe.

The CAHH’s opening on November 11, 2023, marks a milestone for a city already rich with cultural icons like the City of Arts and Sciences, the IVAM, and Bombas Gens. The Valeriola Palace restoration integrates seamlessly into Valencia’s forward-looking landscape, poised to become the European Green Capital in 2024.

The Collection: A Journey Through Art and Architecture


The artworks exhibited at the CAHH are part of Hortensia Herrero’s private collection, featuring over one hundred pieces by fifty international and Spanish artists. Highlighted names include Andreas Gursky, Anselm Kiefer, Georg Baselitz, Anish Kapoor, Joan Miró, and David Hockney, along with Spanish artists like Eduardo Chillida and Miquel Barceló. The CAHH also houses six site-specific installations created exclusively for the center by renowned artists such as Jaume Plensa, Olafur Eliasson, and Cristina Iglesias.

A Display that Merges History with the Contemporary

The CAHH’s exhibition spans four floors with seventeen rooms that invite visitors to a dialogue between past and present. The artistic interventions blend with the historic architecture and archaeological remains discovered during the renovation, including the Roman circus from the imperial era, an Islamic fountain, and an alley from the ancient Jewish quarter.

Site-Specific Works and Iconic Installations

The CAHH offers an immersive experience that begins in its atrium, where Jaume Plensa created an installation with letters and symbols from alphabets around the world, while Tomás Saraceno fascinates with his iridescent, polygonal clouds. Other highlights include an interactive tunnel by Olafur Eliasson and a video installation by Mat Collishaw inspired by Valencia’s famous “fallas.” These installations capture the city’s vibrant spirit and offer a unique, immersive art experience for visitors.

A Cultural Hub of Excellence

With the creation of the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero, Valencia strengthens its role as an international cultural hub. Hortensia Herrero’s vision of sharing her art collection and restoring a historic building for the community has brought to life a place of remarkable beauty, capable of attracting and inspiring a diverse audience. The CAHH’s mission goes beyond showcasing a permanent collection: it offers a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions and educational initiatives, with special attention to emerging artists and Valencia’s 

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