Centro del Calamar Gigante

Centro del Calamar Gigante, also known as Centro de Interpretación del Calamar Gigante, is a natural history museum in Luarca, Asturias, Spain, dedicated to the giant squid (Architeuthis dux). It is administered by Coordinadora para el Estudio y la Protección de las Especies Marinas (CEPESMA) and holds the association's cephalopod collections together with other marine exhibits.The museum officially opened its doors to the public on 13 August 2010. It was visited by 14,000 people in its first three months. The museum building, which has 908.75 square metres of floorspace and a 66.25-square-metre patio, was built at a cost of €1,260,000. The exterior is clad in grey quartzite at ground level, and aluminium composite on the upper two floors.In November 2010 the museum had to close temporarily after being seriously damaged by a storm, the damage amounting to more than €140,000. The problem was compounded by CEPESMA's financial situation at the time, with the association unable to fund its activities and having to lay off staff. Plans were drawn up for a concrete wall that would protect the museum from future wave damage at a cost of €573,000. The museum reopened on 21 April 2011 after a little over two weeks of repair work to the ground floor and access area. The museum received 1,670 visitors in its first four days after reopening.