Museum of Modern Art

On one of our recent walks to downtown, we decided to visit this museum.

It's located at Mariscal Sucre y Coronel Talbot, on the south side of San Sebastian Plaza.

The first time we visited the Plaza was during our first visit to Cuenca a couple years ago...very interesting history. You can read details of that tour (and more pictures) with a professional guide, by going back in the blog archives... way back, to our first trip in 2008.

Both the Plaza and the museum were built in the 17th century. The building was once called the "House of Temperance', which was founded in 1876. It housed and helped citizens with alcohol problems. It was also an orphanage at one time.

The courtyards and gardens within the complex are lovely, with birdsong and several sculptures. An outside wall displays several stone pieces, too.

This is the old water ditch, still in use.
More sculpture along the walkways.

Nancy liked these with the eyeballs...and the stone "cactus".

We took some outside stairs up to see an historic drawing of the area.

Upstairs is also a little open door that allowed us to see the original adobe and wood construction of the building, which always fascinates us!

There is a permanent art collection, as well as featured art by local artists (changes monthly).

Hours are : Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 6:30 pm (closed for lunch from 1-3pm);
Saturday and Sunday it's open from 9am - 1pm.

Admission is free.

Well worth the visit!