Guided Tours of Villa Adelaida – Hans-Maribel-Shami Center for Arts, Sciences and Literature in Santa Pola

Guided Tours of Villa Adelaida – Hans-Maribel-Shami Center for Arts, Sciences and Literature in Santa Pola

The Hans-Maribel-Shami Center for Arts, Sciences and Literature is open to visitors in the fully restored historic building of Villa Adelaida, one of the architectural landmarks and most iconic buildings of Santa Pola.

The History of Villa Adelaida

The villa was built in 1910 and is one of the city’s most recognizable historic buildings. Its architecture combines elements of Art Nouveau (Modernisme) with the so-called Indiano style, characteristic of residences built by Spaniards who returned home after living in the Americas.

In 2012, the owner of the mansion, Maribel López Pérez-Ojeda, donated Villa Adelaida to the Municipality of Santa Pola. Her intention was to create a cultural institution dedicated to supporting and promoting young talent in the fields of art, science, and literature. This vision led to the establishment of the Hans-Maribel-Shami Center.

To officially open the building as a museum and ensure compliance with modern museum standards, the Municipality of Santa Pola carried out extensive restoration, renovation, and rehabilitation works. The project cost approximately €500,000, of which €400,000 was financed by the Provincial Council of Alicante.

The restored building was officially inaugurated on 10 April 2025 by Toni Pérez, President of the Provincial Council of Alicante.

Maribel López Pérez-Ojeda – A Life Without Borders

Maribel López Pérez-Ojeda (1931–2015) was born in Santa Pola and became one of the town’s most distinguished residents.

She devoted most of her professional life to the University of California, Berkeley (USA), where she studied Art, Philosophy, and Humanities, earned her doctoral degree, became a full professor, served as Chair of the Department of Spanish, and taught Romance Languages. For more than forty years, she pursued an outstanding academic and teaching career.

Despite spending much of her life abroad, Maribel always maintained a close connection with her hometown. Shortly before her death, she decided to donate the historic Villa Adelaida to the people of Santa Pola, transforming it into a center dedicated to fostering young talent in the fields of art, science, and literature.

Her remarkable life is documented in the book “Living Without Borders” (Vivir sin fronteras), written by Rafael Pla Grau, Antoni Mas i Miralles, and Shami Mendiratta.

Guided Tours of Villa Adelaida

Villa Adelaida can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

Guided Tour Schedule

Tuesday to Saturday:

• 10:00
• 11:00
• 12:00
• 18:30
• 19:30

Sunday:

• 10:00
• 11:00
• 12:00

Booking and Information

Telephone: +34 678 358 237

Admission: Free of charge.

Important Information

Tour schedules, visiting conditions, and other information may be subject to change. Visitors are advised to confirm the latest information before their visit.

Organizer: Municipality of Santa Pola (Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola).

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