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Craftsmanship in Lorca has a long and rich history. In the past, most of the artisan workshops were established in what is now the historical and artistic centre of the city, an area of great splendour in the 18th century and now, in the 21st century, once again a hive of activity where skilled workmen and women turn out the highest quality hand-crafted products.
The Pósito de los Panaderos
The Casa del Artesano, or Craftsmen’s House, is located in the former warehouse used by bakers, the “Pósito de los Panaderos”, to distribute grain and bread as long ago as the 16th century. This Renaissance structure was built alongside the Moorish city wall, and was also used by butchers, standing right behind the Casa del Corregidor, which served as the Town Hall until the 18th century.
The oldest part of the building dates back to 1552, when King Carlos I granted the city a licence for its construction. On the façade which looks out into the Plaza del Caño is a coat of arms sculpted in stone by Sebastián de Bocanegra, featuring the imperial shield in the centre, flanked by the former seals of the Council of Lorca.
This battered façade collapsed in 1760 and had to be remodelled but the interior, with its stone arches and sturdy wooden beams, is still in its original condition. The building was enlarged in the 18th century by the addition of a third floor.
The design of the building was by Jerónimo Quijano, who also collaborated in the design and construction of the former Collegiate Church of San Patricio and the cathedral of Murcia, and it has also been used to administer tax collection in Lorca and the surrounding countryside, and to grant and register loans.
It was used to house the Municipal Archive before being converted to the Casa del Artesano in 2020.
The Casa del Artesano today
The current trend in craftsmanship is to create new products of traditional inspiration or completely new products of great decorative value, combining artistic merit with skilled craftsmanship.
In Lorca, clay, glass, wood, fabrics and textiles are all handcrafted, but the most prized articles are traditionally those in silk and gold thread.
Within the building items of ethnographic interest are also kept, and this has become a meeting point for all the craftsmen of the municipality, where products that continue to be made by hand in the more than 30 artisan workshops present in the town are exhibited.
The Casa del Artesano organises activities for all audiences, with exhibitions, demonstrations, talks and training on different crafts.
Distribution
Ground floor: Permanent exhibition of unique pieces and utensils from the artisan history of Lorca.
First floor: Access to the visitor reception and to the “Interpretation Centre” of Lorca handicrafts.
Second floor: The “Master Artisans' Hall” is used for workshops and craft courses, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Contact
Casa del Artesano, Antiguo Pósito de Panaderos, Plaza del Caño 5, 30800 Lorca, Murcia
T: (34) 968 320896
W: artelor.es
E: casadelartesano@lorca.es
For more visiting information, local events and news contact the tourist office at the Palacio de Guevara (telephone 968 441914) or go to the home page of Lorca Today.
