Seen from above, the Guitar Cultural Hall is shaped just like a guitar, with the sound hall as the guitar's body and the path to the entrance as the guitar's neck. In the 16th century the vihuela, also called the noble guitar, became popular in the Spanish court. It is the oldest Spanish guitar in existence. Later, four-string Renaissance guitars were played in France and Spain. In the 17th century, five-string baroque guitars were popular in both Spain and Italy.
Guitars spread and became a common musical instrument all over Europe.
In the 18th century, the golden age of guitars, the six-string guitar, which was basically the same as the guitar played today, was developed. Since the classic period, however, pianoforte music became popular and guitar music went into decline. In this hall, you can see the history of these precious guitars. Guitars from the early vihuela to those of Mr Torres's period, have been restored by Mr Marcerino Lopes, and are displayed in chronological order. In an exquisite instrument room , we display guitars made by craftsmen from the 18th century to the present day.