Presided over by Infanta Cristina

The Ministry of Culture has inaugurated ARQUA, the National Underwater Archaeology Museum, in Cartagena, Murcia. The museum was built and designed by architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra. The inauguration event was presided over by Her Royal Highness Infanta Cristina, who was accompanied by the minister of Culture, César Antonio Molina, and numerous personalities from political and cultural circles in the Region of Murcia.

The design, the work of architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, had a budget of 20.84 million euro, covering construction of the building and the museum project now in progress.

The new museum, which has a total floor area of 6,000 square metres, will house over 1,000 submerged pieces from Spain's cultural heritage. In addition, it has been equipped with the latest technology in interactive videos and displays to help visitors gain a better understanding of the country's underwater cultural heritage. There are also classrooms and research rooms.

This is the first museum in Europe to be dedicated entirely to underwater archaeology, and it is estimated to receive around 80,000 visitors a year.