The Museum of Pontevedra was founded on 30 December 1927 by the Provincial Council of Pontevedra (Deputación de Pontevedra) at the proposal of the deputies Gaspar Massó García, César Lois Vidal and Alfredo Espinosa Orrea. However, it did not open its doors to the public for the first time until 10 August 1929, when the biggest local festivities, in honour of A Virxe Peregrina, patron saint of the province of Pontevedra, were taking place.
The Archaeological Society of Pontevedra was founded in 1894 by Casto Sampedro y Folgar and it played a crucial role in preserving the patrimonial heritage. Since the Museum of Pontevedra was created to continue and complete the work carried out by the Society, when its founder, who also was at that time the director of Museum, passed away in 1937, it became responsible for receiving and preserving the extraordinary collection of artworks, archaeological pieces, documents, books, photographs and other goods that this Society had treasured.
These were the members of the first board of trustees in charge of the Museum:
President: Daniel de la Sota
Director: Casto Sampedro y Folgar
Deputy director: Gerardo Álvarez Limeses (interim director from 9 April 1937 to 12 February 1940, when he passed away)
Secretary: José Fernando Filgueira Valverde (director from 23 March 1940 to 23 December 1986)
Treasurer: Raimundo Riestra Calderón, Marquess of Riestra
Trustee in charge of the library: José María Millán
Spokesmen: Antonio Losada Diéguez, Enrique López de la Ballina, Juan Argenti y Navajas, Francisco Javier Sánchez Cantón and Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao
The Castro Monteagudo Building is a pazo (Galician manor house) from the 18th century located in the old town of Pontevedra that was acquired and renovated by the Deputación de Pontevedra to be the first headquarters of the Museum.
Since its opening, the Museum has exhibited artworks from Pontevedra and Galicia, but also national and international pieces such as those sent on loan by the Museo del Prado and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando (Madrid).
The Museum’s collections have been continuously growing thanks to purchases, loans and donations, both from individuals and institutions. This is why at present the Museum is made up of six different buildings.
From 1986 to 2018 the director of the museum was José Carlos Valle Pérez, who was succeeded by José Manuel Rey García. Ángeles Tilve Jar, the new director, was appointed in October 2023.
Museo de Pontevedra