Ancient Colombian gold treasures arrive at Alicante’s MARQ Museum

Alicante’s MARQ Museum is preparing to host one of the most important international exhibitions in its history with the arrival of Gold and the Universe: Indigenous Knowledge from Colombia, running until May 2027.

The exhibition will bring almost 300 artefacts from Colombia’s world-famous Museo del Oro to the Costa Blanca, including more than 150 pieces crafted from gold and tumbaga. It represents one of the largest loans of Colombian gold treasures to Spain in recent decades and offers visitors a rare opportunity to view objects that seldom leave their home country.

The collection explores how pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures viewed gold not as a symbol of wealth or status, but as a spiritual material closely connected to nature, balance and the cosmos. Through the exhibition, visitors will gain an insight into the beliefs, traditions and worldviews of the communities that created these remarkable pieces centuries ago.

A Journey Through History and Living Traditions

Visitors will experience a multi-sensory journey through three galleries at MARQ, combining archaeology, anthropology, sound and storytelling. Ancient ceremonial objects, intricate jewellery, human-animal figures and traditional ritual items will be displayed alongside music recreated from flutes more than 1,000 years old.

One of the exhibition’s most distinctive features is its connection between past and present. Alongside ancient artefacts, visitors will also see contemporary works created by indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon, highlighting traditions, skills and cultural practices that continue to survive today.

Museum officials believe the exhibition will offer a deeper understanding of indigenous knowledge and its relationship with the natural world, while also providing a unique cultural experience for visitors of all ages.

Following its run in Alicante, the exhibition will travel to Santiago de Compostela before continuing to Austria, further strengthening cultural ties between Spain and Colombia and bringing this extraordinary collection to an international audience.

For more information, visit marqalicante.com.