In order to understand our present and to guide our future actions with certainty, it is necessary to know where we come from and to become impregnated with the living conditions of our ancestors. Archaeology and anthropology are the main ways to immerse ourselves in the ancestral history of our territory in order to get closer to the knowledge of the beings that preceded us and to deepen our understanding of their material culture, their biological aspects and their vital heritage. Only in this way can we follow the metaphorical thread of life which, in Greek mythology - a culture that is close to our idiosyncrasy with reminiscences of small settlements in the Mediterranean - the Moiras were in charge of outlining, distributing the irrevocable destiny of each mortal and the future of their existence. This well-tied thread, woven over the centuries, has brought the essence of our past to the present day. And it is clear to us that the best legacy we can leave to future generations is to disseminate and bring our history to the public, but, above all, to enjoy it.
Our Provincial Archaeological Museum, the MARQ, has come of age and we could not be prouder of it, of its trajectory and of what it has achieved over the years. It was in 2002 when Her Majesty Queen Sofia inaugurated its collections in the old facilities of the Provincial Hospital San Juan de Dios, previously exhibited for years on the ground floor of the Diputación de Alicante. Undoubtedly, an arduous and successful process after which this project came to light, thanks to the hard work of a large technical group. With the passing of time, the MARQ has consolidated its position as one of the leading international archaeological museums, with innovative audiovisual techniques in its itinerary. It is also a museum for all audiences, inclusive and accessible, participatory and educational, aimed at disseminating our heritage at all levels of society, including the youngest. A space that has been able to reinvent itself physically and virtually. Not in vain, in the 18 years that it has been located in its current headquarters, it has surpassed the barrier of two and a half million visitors, a figure that reveals the long and successful trajectory of our most universal museum.
Its permanent halls show the world our atavistic wealth, from Prehistory, Iberian Culture, the Romans and the Middle Ages, to the Modern and Contemporary Ages, while its temporary halls have been bustling witnesses to impressive international exhibitions such as 'The Beauty of the Body', which brought to Alicante the Discobolus of Myron, or the exhibition on the 'Hermitage. Treasures of Russian Archaeology', among many others, with a memorable visitor attraction.
This fruitful trajectory, developed to conceive the MARQ as the first museum of the 21st century, has borne fruit with prestigious awards and recognitions. The award as 'Best European Museum of the Year' in 2004, or the recognition of National Geographic magazine, which included it in its list of must-see museums in Spain in 2016, stand out. Two years later, in 2018, it was the first museum in our country to obtain the Q for Tourism Quality Certification.
All these milestones would not have been possible without an exemplary team led by the managing director of the MARQ-Comunitat Valenciana Foundation, José Alberto Cortésand by the technical director of the museum, Manuel Olcinaas well as by the Director of Exhibitions and Dissemination, Jorge Solerand the Head of Excavations and Collections, Rafael AzuarWe would also like to thank the archaeologists, technicians and professionals who make this a unique cultural space. We would also like to thank the Department of Architecture of the Diputación de Alicante, headed by Rafael PérezThe museum would not have its current projection without its trustees, passionate philanthropists who firmly believe in the philosophy that we have given to the MARQ. Our friends of the museum and the thousands and thousands of people who have visited its installations, both in person and virtually, have also contributed to placing the province of Alicante at the world epicentre of the archaeological museum avant-garde.
Our next challenge is already in the making and the end of this celebration will culminate with an unprecedented exhibition in Spain. The warriors of Xi'an will visit MARQ in autumn to leave their mark on our long history of exhibitions.
Carlos Mazón Guixot
President of the C.V. MARQ Foundation and of the Alicante Provincial Council
Julia Parra
Vice-president of the C.V. MARQ Foundation and Deputy for Culture
