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San Roque Contemporary Art Centre
The CAC will house the works of two universal San Roque-born artists in completely different spaces, an Andrés Vázquez de Sola exhibition and a Carlos Pacheco exhibition.
Andrés Vázquez de Sola (1927)
Facts about Andrés Vázquez de Sola:
Born in San Roque, on 25th July 1927, Andrés Vázquez de Sola Domingo stands out as one of the great graphic humourists of the 20th century. Specialised in satirical press, his career took him beyond area to Granada, Madrid and Paris.
After his difficult beginnings in the French capital, feeling cold and sleeping under bridges, his satirical work “The Great Francoist Bullfight” led him to publish in Le Canard Enchainé. This was the starting point for his recognition as one of the most outstanding Andalusians in satirical drawing.
In 1985 he retired for good from journalistic work and dedicated himself to painting colourful medium and large format portraits and holding monographic exhibitions, without forgetting to mention the more than thirty books that he has published.
The exhibition that has just opened features the pictorial work of artist Vázquez de Sola, full of humour and wit. The visit is arranged in rooms around a common thread: portraits with a description of a person that includes their character, habits and actions, which provides the opportunity for the San Roque creator to investigate the ins and outs of the portrayed public figures.
His works are arranged in three rooms.
The first room, on the ground floor, is dedicated to people from the Gibraltar Area, characters who tell stories about the region through their own lives portrayed with humour and love. Artists, intellectuals, musicians, writers, from different eras. From historical figures such as Luis de Lacy, José Cadalso, Francisco María Tubino or Juan Domingo de Mena, to the 20th century with Juan Luis Galiardo, Carlos Castilla del Pino, Paco de Lucía or Carlos Pacheco, among many others.
The second and third rooms are located on the first floor and are adjacent. They offer a walk through historical eras with the legendary characters created by the ingenuity of Vázquez de Sola.
His works are full of colour, imbued with a sense of humour, through which we can delve into the human soul, the one that we are made up of, with our strengths and flaws. A story told through portraits, a mirror in which to look at ourselves and recognise ourselves. But not with sadness or seriousness, but through laughter, which dismantles and demolishes the walls that separate us.
The San Roque artist says that “Humour is the ability to laugh at the world whilst we look in the mirror.” Seen in this way, laughter is an effective therapy, a powerful tool against repression, laughter breaks down walls, sneaks between the bars of the cells and is impossible to chain up. Laughter is a powerful weapon of mass destruction against the injustices of this world, Vázquez de Sola takes us on a journey to a purer world.
Carlos Pacheco (1961-2022)
Carlos Pacheco Perujo was born in San Roque on 14th November 1960.
Although he began his career as a biology graduate, he soon turned his attention to his great passion: the world of comics.
He worked for DC Comics USA and Marvel Comics USA & UK, the world-famous comic book publishers. His high-quality, expressive and dynamic drawings of Superman, Batman, Avengers, X-Men and other superheroes took him to the top of American popular culture.
He also culminated his professional development with the creation of his own comic book: ‘Arrowsmith’. Together with Kurt Busiek, he published this graphic novel based on a fantasy universe.
Last Friday, 21st March, the Carlos Pacheco collection was inaugurated at the CAC San Roque (Contemporary Art Centre), together with the Andrés Vázquez de Sola collection inaugurated the previous year.
Under the slogan ‘When dreams come true’, the Carlos Pacheco collection exhibition offers an encounter with the personal universe of this outstanding artist born in San Roque.
It offers a journey that spans from his early childhood, when he dreamt of the becoming a comic book artist, to the fulfilment of his dreams, his time at Marvel and DC Comics, and the culmination of his artistic development through the creation of his own comic book, Arrowsmith.
The CAC San Roque also houses a recreation of the studio where he created his most outstanding works, with original items belonging to the family. This is an opportunity to understand the creative process behind the construction of a comic book.
Opening time
From Tuesday to Friday – from 10:00 to 14:00
The first weekend of every month, from 10:00 until 14:00
Closed on local, regional and national holidays.
Museums
San Roque’s cultural facilities are rich and varied. Among the different options available to visitors keen on cultural experiences are the different museums, which include from art to archaeology, as well as bullfighting, movies and CB radio. In addition, there are exhibition halls that house different themes.
Therefore there are a wide range of alternatives for visitors who are looking for leisure options and want to find out more about the wealth of history and heritage the city of San Roque has to offer.
Carteia Museum 
This museum is an extraordinary opportunity to get to know Carteia Achaeological Site better, which is situated in the borough, through pieces found during different excavation campaigns. Different rooms take us on journey from its Phoenician and Carthaginian origins until the present day, including its splendid Imperial Roman past, the period of maximum splendour.
Visitors have the chance to enjoy a new museum site, in which they will be able to see the different pieces on show, such as household pottery, decorated cornices, different busts and figures, coins, oil lamps and oinment holders, among many other pieces. All of these make up a chronological journey from the foundation of the city of Carteia until the creation of the city of San Roque after the capture of Gibraltar by the English in 1704.
Nevertheless, what no one should miss is the wharf, which was moved from its original site in Campamento and features a really rare drainage system made up of amphorae. The spectacular bucraneum frieze, a marble relief which represents a bovine skull decorated with flower and fruit wreaths, an exquisite piece which was part of a burial or commemorative monument. For those who feel scientific curiosity, they only have take a look at a archaeological stratigraphy, which shows the different strata that archaeologists have uncovered in their excavations and is something really new as far as the typical museum is concerned.
In addition, the museum where the original Standard of Gibraltar is kept, brought by the Gibraltarians who were forced to leave the Rock when the English took over. This standard, which is made with embroidered silk, features the coat of arms of the city of San Roque. The coat of arms is the same as Gibraltar’s, except for the crown above the badge on the San Roque version. Incidentally, according to legend the standard was embroidered by Joanna the Mad, although we cannot be entirely sure if it is true, it is worth having a close look to see all its exquisite details.
The visit is complemented with audiovisual features, which allow you to find out more about the pieces and the history of the city, as well as a brand-new virtual reality experience that lets visitors relive the city at the time of its maximum splendour. The museum also has a strong presence on social media, where you can find out more about different pieces, events organised by the museum and other news to keep you up to date.
C/ San Felipe, Plaza Santa Ana
E-mail: actividades.museos@sanroque.es
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, except on local, regional and national holidays. Guided tours are available outside of opening hours through advance booking.
Coordinates: 36.20980337829659, -5.386185545560486
Closed on local, regional and national holidays.
Luis Ortega Brú Museum
The ground floor of the Governor’s Palace houses the museum dedicated to the San Roque-born religious sculptor, Luis Ortega Brú. This sculptor is considered to be one of the best from the 20th century in specialised circles.
Some of the artist’s most emblematic pieces are kept in the museum, as well as different outlines and prototypes of religious statues that can be found scattered around Spain and even Latin America.
Talking about Luis Ortega Brú is talking about feelings, passion and classicism, combining a degree of innovation that makes his work something sublime. That mixture of tradition and avant-garde, his unique way of giving a totally new perspective to classical themes and his singular sense of religiousness made him an artist in a class of his own.
We can encounter several original figures at the Luis Ortega Brú Museum, among which «La Pietà» in the religious sphere and a series of small totally contemporary and conceptual sculptures stand out, making it clear that his diverse artistic spectrum was nurtured throughout his career.
In addition, outlines and models of statues which are paraded around the streets in different parts of Spain can be seen, which makes it a unique opportunity to get to know more about the creative process of this artist. The genius of Luis Ortega Brú is clearly evident in works such as The Resurrection, «La Inmaculada» from Burgos or the most surprising sculptures like the Charites or Cathedral, the last two works are pure avant-garde.
You can see a recreation of the artist’s workshop at the Museum with his original tools and work bench, something that gives visitors a totally immersive artistic experience.
Undoubtedly, Luis Ortega Brú is one of the most important religious artists from the 29th century and not only is San Roque honoured by that fact he was born here, but also for being able to cherish his memory and his artwork with a museum that we are sure will leave no visitor indifferent.
Palacio de los Gobernadores, C/ Rubín de Celis s/n
Tel: 956 780 507
E-mail: actividades.museos@sanroque.es
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except on local, regional and national holidays. Guided tours are available outside of opening hours through advance booking.
Coordinates: 36.2099524406541, -5.384452129599723
Juan Luis Galiardo
Not many people know that the famous and award-winning actor, Juan Luis Galiardo, a real movie and theatre icon, was born in San Roque. His home town was always close to his heart and this was reciprocal for local people. The city houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to his professional legacy, which can be visited at the Theatre which was given his name, located in the Alameda Square. This is how we make a tribute to his memory.
The exhibition starts with an extraordinary series of photographs with the title «Dressing Rooms» by Sergio Parra. These are a series of intimate pictures that show the actor behind the scenes before and after going on stage. These are photographs that capture the essence of the actor to perfection, his elegance and passion for this profession which part of every seconds of his life.
We can also encounter numerous personal objects, attrezzo, scripts with notes by the actor, costumes used in different roles and an endless list of curiosities that bring us closer to the work of this beloved San Roque-born actor. Undoubtedly, the jewel in the crown of this exhibition is the original Goya award that Juan Luis Galiardo received as the Best Actor in 2001 for his role in the film «Adiós con el corazón» (Goodbye from the heart) and that is kept with great pride. A real tribute to one of the most well-known actors in the Spanish cinema industry that should not be missed for any seventh art enthusiasts.
Juan Luis Galiardo Theatre, Alameda Alfonso XI
E-mail: teatrojlg@sanroque.es
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 11 am to 1 pm, except on local, regional or national holidays. Guided tours are available outside these hours through advance booking.
Coordinates: 36.20976325229159, -5.388187166765727
Closed on local, regional and national holidays.
CB Radio Museum
When we mention that San Roque’s cultural facilities are exceptional, we are not saying this for the sake of it. The CB Radio Museum, located in the Alameda Square, is literally in a class of its own and is another reason (as if there were not enough!) to visit the city. It is the only museum in Europe that is dedicated to CB-27 MHz radios and the world of ham radio. Visiting the museum is opening up to a fascinating and unknown world for most of us.
The collection features over 3,000 devices, although there are over 800 on show. Among these devices we can encounter radios, microphones and other accessories that, without a doubt, will intrigue visitors.
Apart from the actual museum pieces, you can also get to know the history of CB radio as the museum also has an extensive bibliography in several languages, as well as study tables for scholars. This is definitely a visit you should not miss and discover a new hobby.
Alameda Alfonso XI
E-mail: museocb@gmail.com
Summer hours: Fridays from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Winter hours: Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Coordinates: 36.210643524560425, -5.3886964473415135
Events
Discover all of our upcoming events in San Roque. Click on the link below to access our events page and get more details about dates, locations, and activities.