Over 40 exhibits can be touched and felt by blind and/or visually impaired visitors thanks to an accessibility project developed by the Museum and the Spanish Org. for the Blind.

The Geominero Museum belongs to the "Instituto Geologico y Minero de España", a scientific institute of the Spanish Ministery of Sciencie and Technology. The collections of the Museum started with the specimens supply by the works of the "Comisión del Mapa Geológico de España". This committee was created by the Queen Isabel II in 1849. During the first times of this committee, the collections were dispersed by different places. They were placed in the actual site in 1927. In the Geominero Museum, mineral resources and fossils from all Spanish geological sites are represented. Singular samples of rocks and minerals from the older Spanish colonies as Philippines, Cuba or Western Sahara are in exhibition.

The collections of the Museum facilitate an extraordinary trip through the time, thanks to its 10000 mineral, 1000 rock and 25000 micro and megapalaeontological samples. A great part of these specimens can be found in the permanent exhibition which is organized in eight halls where mineral specimens are on display in over 250 glass cabinets.

The mineral collection has samples from every region in Spain including flora, ores and organogeneous rocks. The fossil section contains a selection of vertebrates and invertebrates from Spain and abroad including wild boar, tortoise, crocodile, frogs and bear.

The Museo Geominero together with the ONCE (Spanish Organization for the Blind) have developed a specific accessibility plan for the blind by means of which over 40 exhibits can be touched and felt by these visitors. These samples are exhibited out of the glass showcases and have labels in Braille and printed in large characters. A new guide leaflet for the museum has been edited in Braille containing explanations about the samples and giving directions and suggestions about the tour along the exhibition halls. A tactile map of the premises is available by the entrance area.

Specially trained staff to guide blind and/or visually impaired visitors is available at the Geominero Museum (except on Saturdays and Sundays).

The main entrance to the Museum is by means of several steps, wheelchair users and PRM should contact the staff and ask them to open the alternative entrance. Main Hall is on level 1 and the  two adapted toilets are at level 0, accessible by  an adapted elevator.

Opening Schedule:
From Monday to Sunday: 9 a 14 h.
Free Admission.

Museo Geominero
c/ Ríos Rosas, 23
28003 Madrid.
España

General Information and booking for groups:
Tel: (+34) 91 349 57 59
Fax: (+34) 91 349 58 30
m.geominero@igme.es
www.igme.es/museo

Rebecca Arce

Back to top