Tomàs Pla devoted more than two decades to collecting antique toys manufactured in Spain between 1875 and 1975. His effort culminated in the Museum of Toy History (Museo de Historia del Juguete) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on Catalonia's Costa Brava. Pla acquired the historic building that would house the collection in 1998 and, after refurbishing the facilities, opened it to the public on 11 August 2000. The museum is presented as a key space for collectors and for the memory of Spanish popular culture.
The museum is housed in Can Vilaret, a 19th-century building on the central Rambla Antoni Vidal, close to the seafront. Its main facade dates from 1868, and the property originally belonged to the Vilaret family. It retains decorative features from the period, including a greenhouse and a brightly coloured skylight. Because of its heritage value and the changes made to the structure over time, the local council listed the building as part of the city's protected architectural heritage.
Pla's collection contains around 3,500 pieces in total and offers a retrospective of 100 years of social and industrial change in Spanish toys. More than 1,100 pieces are currently on public display, in good condition and working order. The exhibits range from the simplest wooden objects of the post-war period to elaborate mechanical tinplate toys and historic dolls. The golden age of tinplate toy manufacturing ran from 1910 to the Civil War, with Alicante workshops noted for their craftsmanship. During the post-war years, wooden toy factories emerged in towns such as Dénia because tin was expensive and reserved for wealthier families. In 1952, Payá Hermanos introduced Spain's first injected-plastic machine and produced the emblematic Arre caballito, a technological advance that began a profound transformation of the national industry and opened the way to modern plastic toys.
Among the highlights are historic dolls such as Mariquita Pérez, created in the early 1940s, alongside other remembered models including Gisela and Güendolina. The display also includes O-scale electric train models made by JOS-FEL, MANAMO and Treco, as well as HO-scale series produced by Electrotren from 1954. Borrás board games, Seix y Barral children's theatres, Exin Castillos construction sets and Pippi Longstocking figures complete an exhibition rich in nostalgia for collectors. The route includes a section of the old Pasaje del Terror from the Montjuïc amusement park. The museum offers guided tours for groups of up to 20 people, and its shop sells carefully made reproductions of antique toys with series certificates and in limited editions, including pieces from firms such as Fournier, Borrás and Geyperman.
Beyond its nostalgic appeal, the Museum of Toy History argues for the continued value of traditional and classic play. In a context where digital screens absorb children's leisure time, the museum invites visitors to recall the importance of imagination and shared play across generations. Pla's dedication has preserved a social legacy that safeguards Spanish popular memory, and the collection is presented as an enriching visit for anyone interested in toy culture.
Sources: elDiario.es.