For anyone following this blog long enough, well, you’ve probably noticed an obsession with miniature museums. From Zarifa Salahova’s collection of miniature edition books in Azerbaijan to the 105 models of historic buildings at Miniatürk we’ve covered a lot of small stuff. One day I hope to find out why creating small-scale reproductions has become a thing. And if you think we’ve run out of such places, think again. With over 32,000 lead pieces, each under an inch high, displayed in 23 historical scenes, the Jaca Citadel Military Miniatures Museum in Spain (a country that appears to be winning the battle of the small with several miniature museums, see here and here) chronologically documents the most important battles of human history. Visitors will see the armies and battles of Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the Crusades, the Napoleonic era and of course the 20th century wars. But there is definitely an emphasis on the Reino de España, especially with the Crown of Aragón, etc. The collection began to take shape in the 1960s by a miniatures fan and history lover named Carlos Royo-Villanova. It was first acquired by the Jaca Council in 1984, then nearly twenty years later moved to its own museum in the Castle of San Pedro. But like I said before, Spain has got miniatures on the brain, and this teeny tiny museum isn’t even the largest collection in the country. That title belongs to the Museo de los Soldaditos de Plomo in Valencia, which has more than 85,000 toy soldiers and miniature figures making it the official holder of world’s largest military miniatures collection. May the itty bitty museum battle commence!
Jaca Citadel Military Miniatures Museum in Spain
