MADRID - ARMY MUSEUM

Calle Menendez Nunez, 1, 28014 Madrid
Tel 91 522 89 77 Fax 91 531 46 24
Open 10am to 2pm, closed Mondays

Easy to get to, close to the Prado. There is talk of closing it down and moving everything to Toledo, so, if you intend to go, do it soon. There is a whole room dedicated to the SCW, lots of models, flags and interesting stuff in showcases on the walls. Well worth a visit and it only costs about 200 pesetas to get in, and I believe entry is free on Sundays.

MADRID - TANK MUSEUM

Base Militar de El Goloso, Autovia M-607, Km18, 28790 El Goloso (Madrid)
Tel 91 734 34 00 Fax 91 372 18 98
Open Monday to Friday 5.30pm to 8.30 p.m
Open Saturdays and Sundays 12.30 to 1.30 and 5.30pm to 8.30pm

I've not managed to get to this one yet, due to the fact that it's hard to get to and opens at funny hours, but I'm sure it will be worth a visit. It has, among other things, a Panzer 1B and a Renault FT17.

MADRID - NAVAL MUSEUM

Paseo del Prado, 5, 28014 Madrid
Tel 91 379 50 56 Fax 91 379 50 56
Open 10.30am to 1.30pm. Closed Mondays, all August and most national holidays.

Close to the Army Museum. A nice little museum, although the SCW stuff is largely ship models.

MADRID - AIRFORCE MUSEUM

Carretera N-V Madrid -Extremadura, Km 10,500 (Cuatro Vientos), 28071 Madrid
Tel 91 509 16 90
Open 10am to 2pm, closed Mondays

Bad to get to but worth the trouble. If you go by car or taxi, don't take the turn off the N-V to Cuatro Vientos, keep heading out of town until you see the museum signposted.

You could easily spend a whole day here and use up lots of film. There are two Ju-52s, and all the SCW aircraft you would expect to find, including the actual Dragon Rapide which flew General Franco to Morocco so he could save Spain from the descent into barbarism. The I-16 is actually a full-size model, but they are trying to get a real one. Ive no idea how much it is to get in but whatever it costs, it's well worth it.

MADRID - MILITARY RAILWAY MUSEUM (13TH ENGINEER REGT)

Regimento de Ferrocarriles No13, Avda de la Aviacion No6, 28024 Madrid
Tel 91 509 20 00 Fax 91 509 23 26
Open Monday to Friday but you have to write or phone to ask permission to visit.

I've not been to this one but it's out by Cuatro Vientos, so, if you are going that way to visit the Airforce museum and have some time to spare, it might be worth a visit.

TOLEDO

Cuesta Carlos V, No2, 45001 Toledo
Tel 925 22 16 73 Fax 925 21 26 24
Open 10am to 2pm, 4pm to 6pm, closed Mondays

A must if you go to Toledo. Lots of uniforms and weapons and, of course, the building is worth seeing. I don't know how much it cost to get in as I got in free with some friends. Incidentally, there's also the Infantry Museum in Toledo, in the huge edifice opposite the Alcazar.

SEVILLE

Avda de Portugal, 41004 Sevilla
Tel 95 423 99 09
Open 10am to 2pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays, national holidays and all August.

This is round the back of the Plaza de Espana. They have a lot of interesting things, including a Soviet 7.62cm Anti-tankgun and it's German counterpart, the 75mm Pak.Lots of weaponry and steel helmets. There's often displays by local collectors and modellers, and, if you are lucky, the bar will be open. Again, I've no idea how much it costs to get in, I've always gone with Spanish friends.

VALENCIA

Calle General Gil Dolz, 8, 4610 Valencia
Tel 96 360 16 45 Fax 96 360 35 00
Open in summer (May to Sept) Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 2pm (Sat & Sun 10.30 - Closed all August. Open in winter(Oct to April) Tuesday to Friday 10.30am to 1.30pm (Sat & Sun 10.30-2) closed every Monday.

I've not been to this one, but now there is a high-speed train running between Madrid and Valencia, I intend to get there sometime fairly soon. There's a T-26 tank here and some artillery, according to the guide book.

BARCELONA

Castillo Montjuich, Carretera de Montjuich, 66, 08038 Barcelona
Tel 93 329 86 13
Open 9.30am to 7.30pm. Sundays it opens 9.30 to 8pm. Closed Mondays and most national holidays.

Easy to find. You can walk up if you are fit, but there also a cable car for the less energetic. Lots of interesting artillery pieces in the courtyard. Last time I was there (several years ago) the exhibits inside were all in boring, dusty show cases with a few labels, but it may have improved since then. I can't remember what the entrance fee is, but I found it well worth the money.

LA CORUNA

Plaza Carlos 1, 15001 La Coruna
Tel 981 20 67 91 Fax 981 20 67 91
Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm. Closed Sat & Sun & holidays.

More for Napoleonic buffs, but, if you are in the area, it's worth a visit. There's an 88mm and a Schneider 155mm (I think) outside and some nice uniforms and weapons inside.

PALMA DE MALLORCA - CASTILLO DE SAN CARLOS

Carretera del Dique del Oeste, 07015 Palma de Mallorca
Tel 971 40 21 45
Open all year round -Autumn and winter 9am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm Spring and summer 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm

I've not been to this one but, if you are forced to go to Mallorca for your holidays, it will be a good excuse to dump the wife and kids and the beach and head out there.

MENORCA

Plaza Esplanada, 19, 07720 Es Castell (Villa Carlos), Menorca.
Tel 971 36 59 47 Fax 971 36 21 00
Open Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 1pm - other times by special arrangement.

As above.

TENERIFE

Acuartelamiento de Almeyda, Calle San Isidro, 2, 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tel 922 27 16 58.
Open 10am to 2pm, closed Mondays.

As above

SEGOVIA - ARTILLERY MUSEUM

Academia de Artilleria, Calle San Francisco, 25, 40001 Segovia
Tel 921 42 01 00 Fax 921 43 54 65

You have to ask permission to visit at least a month in advance. I've not been to this one but it looks as if it would be worth the trouble to visit.

VALLODOLID - CAVALRY MUSEUM

Academia de Caballeria, Paseo de Zorrilla, 2, 47006 Vallodolid
Tel 983 35 02 00 Fax 983 33 75 85
Open Sept to June, Mon to Fri 8.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm but closed Fri pm. July to August, Mon to Fri 8am to 3pm. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.

I've not been to this one but the photos in the guide book look interesting. Note

This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other museums in Spain which don't contain much Spanish Civil War material. For example, there are Naval Museums in Seville (Torre del Oro), San Fernando, and Barcelona, and also various small military museums scattered around the country. There'a usually some little gem worth seeing in any Spanish museum.