Casa del Carnaval
The museum of the world's second most famous carnival (after Rio de Janeiro). Monumental Queen costumes, murgas, comparsas, VR goggles and costumes you can try on. Exhibitions change every year. FREE. Audioguides in 5 languages.
Casa del Carnaval is the place where Santa Cruz celebrates its Carnival all year round. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the second most popular in the world, right after Rio de Janeiro. Santa Cruz has been a twin city of Rio precisely for this reason, since 1984. The Carnival was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest on 18 January 1980: the first Canarian festival to receive this distinction, alongside the carnival in Cádiz. In 2000 Santa Cruz was declared World Capital of Carnival.
A famous moment in history: in 1987 Cuban singer Celia Cruz performed with the Billo's Caracas Boys orchestra before over 200,000 people in Plaza de España. This Guinness World Record for the largest open-air dance gathering in a public square still stands today. The Carnival now aspires to UNESCO Intangible Heritage status: it would be the sixth carnival in the world and the first in Spain to receive this recognition.
The museum has existed since 28 June 2017. Its first appointed director (back in 1985) was Enrique González Bethencourt, founder of the legendary Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá and father of murgas in the Canary Islands. The idea of a carnival museum had been around since the 1980s, but several projects fell through. Finally the 'Serpentinas y Confetis' project in an old premises by the Barranco de Santos became reality. The building has 1,052.74 m² and stands by the Puente Galcerán bridge.
The Sala Permanente is the heart of the museum: Queen costumes (adult, children's and senior's Queens) with their courts, award-winning murga and comparsa fantasies, historic posters from 1962 (Juan Galarza), César Manrique's 1985 poster, Jiri Georg Dokoupil's 1987 poster and Mel Ramos's 1991 poster, Don Enrique's baton (father of murgas), and eight audiovisual 'serpentinas' screens recounting Carnival history. The hall is named Sala Luis Hormiga 'Suspi', after the legendary murguero from the group Los Bambones. The museum is being modernised: a new 'Infinity Room' with mirrored surfaces, a projection wall and surround sound is planned as a striking entry into the Carnival universe, along with augmented reality to view Queen costumes year-round even when they are not on display.
To understand the chicharrero carnival, you need to know its elements: murgas (groups singing satirical songs about current events: the most authentic tradition), comparsas (similar to Rio's samba schools, with batucadas and dance), rondallas (the lyrical side, opera, zarzuela), Gala de la Reina (monumental costumes weighing tens of kilos), Coso (the grand parade) and Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine on Ash Wednesday: the most moving finale). The Carnival anthem is 'Santa Cruz en Carnaval', composed in 1974 by Agustín Ramos with lyrics by Delfín Yeste, created during the twilight of Francoism to restore the festival's true name instead of the official 'Fiestas de Invierno'.
Barranco de Santos, next to Puente Galcerán bridge, Calle Aguere. Visible from above the bridge.
Any TITSA to the Santa Cruz interchange → 10 min walk. Tram: Teatro Guimerá stop → 8 min walk.
Get here by busParking Plaza de España (Interparking, ~€1.53/h) - 8 min walk. WARNING: no elevator. Better option: Parking El Pilar (Calle Puerto Escondido, affordable, with elevator) - 10 min walk. Or Parking Ramón y Cajal (~€1.53/h) - 7 min walk.
Navigate to parkingCasa del Carnaval is pure joy. Even if you arrive knowing nothing about Tenerife's Carnival, you will leave understanding why this city lives for its festival. This is the second most famous carnival in the world, and the UNESCO bid could give Santa Cruz the first such recognition for a carnival in all of Spain.
You must see: the Queen costumes are monumental sculptures weighing tens of kilos and measuring metres in height. Seeing them up close is impressive. The interactive zone where you try on costumes and wigs and play murga instruments is brilliant for children. Audio guides in 5 languages are free and explain the difference between murgas (satire), comparsas (samba) and rondallas (opera) brilliantly. Look for César Manrique's 1985 poster and Don Enrique's baton.
Exhibitions change completely every year after Carnival: the museum is usually closed April-May for the changeover. Check dates at casacarnavalsantacruz.com. Open Mon-Sun 10:00-18:30. Combo: Casa del Carnaval > Mercado de África (5 min) > La Noria (tapas) > Plaza de España.
From Parking El Pilar: Parque García Sanabria (45 min) → walk downhill along the Rambla → Casa del Carnaval (45 min) → Mercado de África (30 min, tapas) → Calle La Noria (terrace drinks) → Plaza de España (30 min, free underground gallery) → waterfront all the way to the Auditorio. A full day in Santa Cruz.
Carnival Queen dress in the entrance hall - visible from outside
The reigning Queen of Carnival's costume fills the entrance hall and is visible from outside through the glass - a jaw-dropping centerpiece, meters tall, covered in gems and feathers. It changes every year. Best shot: from inside, shooting upward from below to capture the full scale.
Galcerán Bridge with the Casa del Carnaval below in the Barranco de Santos
The Puente Galcerán bridge over the Barranco de Santos offers a quirky perspective: the Casa del Carnaval below among palm trees, with the ravine and the city center buildings in the background. It's a little-known view of Santa Cruz. Inside the museum, the serpentina screens (colorful light panels) are also very photogenic.