The Tin Toy Museum of Candeleda is the best museum in the world for children.

The Museo del Juguete de Hojalata has recently expanded its collection with several showcases, including toys from Eastern Europe, India, Turkey... The whole visit is audio-guided.

A meeting point for people from all over Spain, the Tinplate Toy Museum of Candeleda has inaugurated its new tour in a more pleasant and personal way, where the visitor goes through the rooms with audio guides, which means that nothing is lost in the display cases, being able to repeat the explanations or stop the explanation to observe in more detail.

The tour lasts about an hour, with the possibility of extending the time and taking photos of the 3,000 objects in the Museum, which we have been enjoying for the last 20 years.

The Museum is divided into four sections.

A Tin Childhood. Tin toys always remind us of times gone by when our parents and grandparents, back in 1900, played with objects that were apparently hard to the touch but at the same time delicate, cheerful and fun.

Toys of the world. We discover their evolution, where and how the different techniques have been perfected over the generations, adapting to the toy market, demonstrating great ingenuity in making copies, incorporating the use of new materials.

Objects from another era. We will observe a wide range of utensils of all kinds corresponding to the toy era. On many occasions these objects were the starting points to be imitated by the first toy manufacturers, from which they made miniatures for children's games.

The toys of Henry and Snow. A collection of toys from 1984 to the time of the Tamagochi.

The technical part of the exhibition tells in murals, videos, texts and toy manipulation, the history and manufacturing techniques of the toys, materials, years of manufacture and origin, from their origins to the latest innovations.

The Tinplate Toy Museum is carefully looked after in every detail.

Because they are right: the Tin Toy Museum in Candeleda is a real feast for the little ones. Can you imagine a museum full of toys where you can also play with some of the pieces on display?

Children have a great time at the Tin Toy Museum.

Well, that's what you'll find in the Casa de las Flores, the beautiful building that houses the Candeleda Tin Toy Museum.

In fact, a visit to the museum is worthwhile, to begin with the house itself: a building dating from 1862 and characterised by its eight balconies filled with flowerpots all year round. It is located in the Plaza Mayor and is on the corner of Calle Umbría.

After marvelling at the façade of the house, you enter the doors of the 'time machine' that is the Tin Toy Museum.

The museum transports us to another era. Not too far back in time, it is true. But magical for those of us who did not live through it and who can discover it through the more than 3,000 pieces treasured for decades by the soul of the museum, Paco Gil.

The Tin Toy Museum brings together more than 3,000 pieces.

The Casa de las Flores, as well as unique toys, is also a kind of ethnographic museum: a collection of utensils common in the houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that will leave you open-mouthed.

Irons, keys, books, radios, typewriters, gramophones... There is nothing missing in a unique collection that helps us to understand the time when children asked the Three Wise Men for tin toys.

In the Tin Toy Museum you will find all kinds of antique objects, such as this typewriter.

Because although nowadays everything is plastic and electronics, not so many years ago toys were made of tin.

And this is, perhaps, what most attracts the attention of the children who visit the Tin Toy Museum today.

Children travel back in time through the toys.

In fact, two of the museum's rooms are devoted almost entirely to this type of toy.

Racing cars, buses, trains, boats, rockets, trucks... Everything a child could wish for is in toy form. Most of them were born in the town of Ibi, Alicante. In factories such as Payá, Rico, San Juan, Verdú y Hermanos or Jyesa.

The museum also reviews the history of the main toy brands.

Many of the pieces are priceless collector's jewels. But the good thing is that the museum also has reproductions for sale in its shop.

Moving forward in time, the Tin Toy Museum also has a selection of more modern toys.

Paco tells us that he was 'planted' with the arrival of the Tamagochi. But until that time we can see in its display cases classic games such as the Juegos Reunidos, Mariquita Pérez, toys from the Disney factory, the Cuentos de Calleja or Playmobil clics.

The classic Cuentos de Calleja coexist with more modern toys.

The truth is that it was difficult for our girls to fix their eyes on one place, they liked everything!

Although, as you can imagine, what they enjoyed the most was being able to play with some of the toys in the museum.

Especially with the beautiful cars and motorbikes that you find in the hall.

Well prepared with their period helmets, they had a great time 'circulating' around the museum.

You can almost feel the speed in the photo, can't you?

Oh, and they also had a great time becoming pupils in a mid-20th century school: with their wooden desks and their map of Spain on the wall. The photo is priceless!

Opening times vary in winter and summer. The best thing to do is to call to reserve the entrance in the morning and afternoon.
In that case you should call 669130175 or 920380032.

casadelasflores@valletietar.com