While staying in the nearby Parador hotel we visited the town of Cervera and found this wonderful museum, once the 16th century home of the photographer, Piedad Isla. You will find the museum in the Plaza de la Cruz. This interesting museum summarizes, through 2,000 objects what life was like in the past centuries in the nearby towns of the area. The young guide was very helpful introducing what we would find and how the museum came about. Piedad, born 6th September 1926, collected all kinds of utensils and furniture from the Spanish postwar society. She died 6th November 2009. You need quite a while to wander around as there is so much to see. Crafts include carpentry, mining, blacksmiths, shoemakers. Numerous toys, dresses, clothes, coins, furniture and musical instruments are also reflected. The textile industry is represented with fundamental pieces for the process of making wool and linen, traditional ornaments and clothing. One legacy attraction is the permanent exhibition of 300 photograph images and more than 200,000 negatives. As you enter the museum there is a map showing 60 towns in the area where Piedad visited to take photographs. Once the Spanish Civil War ended, people were required to have their photograph taken. Near the entrance, also, is a picture of 'El Abuelo,' a giant oak tree said to be 500 years old. This can be found in Vanes, not too far away from Cevera. Another picture portrays an old house thought to be where 'inquisitions' took place. (Casa de la Inglies). A 2 hole mousetrap caught my eye which was quite intriguing. The owner's father was a stone mason and a timber book had a hand print which was signed. For visitors, the museum opens its doors during Holy Week and then every weekend until summer. In July, August and September it is open every day except Mondays, from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm. Until the end of the year it is open weekends and holidays. Price for adults is 2 euros, for groups of 1.5 euros and for schools 1 euro per person. This museum certainly reflects a 'mirror memory of a rural world' by this Spanish Photographer. Please do visit and see for yourselves.

Extraordinary exhibition of photos, objects and tools from the last century used by our grandparents. Ethnographic museum.