The museums of La Gomera reinforce their outreach work in a year with record visitors
The museum centers dependent on the Island Council register almost seven thousand visitors during 2022, recovering data from before the pandemic
Curbelo values the work of maintenance, dissemination and research of the Gomero heritage that is carried out in the Archaeological and Ethnographic museums
The museums of La Gomera received nearly seven thousand visitors last year. This was reported by the island president, Casimiro Curbelo, who indicated that these figures reaffirm the recovery in the number of visits that were experienced before the pandemic, and exceed the records obtained during 2021, with international users being the ones who visit these centers the most, "which reflects the special interest of tourists in learning about our cultural and historical heritage."
“These figures show the potential that heritage has as a cultural and tourist product, and encourages us to continue on the path of renewal and conservation of these centers that value the history and traditions of our island, with updated and modernized resources,” Curbelo noted.
Likewise, he emphasized the research work carried out in the Archaeological and Ethnographic museums, "through which they collaborate closely with different projects, entities and experts at the regional and national level by responding to requests for the sending of scientific articles, the preparation of studies and collection of samples."
This research activity complements the daily maintenance and dissemination of heritage work carried out in museums, serving the general public and providing guided tours to schools, volunteer associations and groups of seniors, university students, and science and heritage professionals; as well as the participation of museum staff in different fairs, conferences and training and educational activities.
The museum centers have been an active part in the development of projects such as “History and Orality of the Silbo Gomero”, on the recent history of the social and territorial practice of the Silbo Gomero from oral sources and from methodologies related to social anthropology and history. As well as the incorporation of new sites to the archaeological heritage inventory of the island, as well as the coordination with entities of insular interest and programs dependent on the General Directorate of Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Ethnographic and Archaeological Museums
The Ethnographic Museum, located in Hermigua, houses samples of the adaptation difficulties that the Gomero settlers encountered due to the complicated orography of the island. Likewise, objects are exhibited and the dialectical relationship between man and the environment is addressed, giving great importance to the culture of La Gomera from the point of view of the evolution it has had throughout its history.
The Archaeological Museum, located in the historic center of San Sebastián de La Gomera, shows visitors the culture of the ancient Gomerians, delving into archaeological research, investigating how the first settlers arrived on the island and detailing the characteristics of their settlements. Likewise, the MAG exhibits high-value objects and reproductions of the sites.
General access to the museums has a price of 2.50 euros, with a reduced rate established for Canarian residents, students and retirees, large families, and groups; and a free one for groups such as children under 8 years of age, school groups, those born or residing in La Gomera, and in general on World Tourism Day and International Museum Day.
