Granja Arenas

Welcome to Granja Arenas, a “world of collections in one place.” This museum and farm was inspired by the encouragement of one teacher (all it takes to change a life). When Emilio Arenas was ten years old, he had a lucky key ring from his mom and a pencil that he had been given for an exam. He asked his teacher for another pencil, and she gave him not one, but two—the start of something much bigger.

Nearly seven decades later, Emilio—with the support and enthusiasm of his family—is the current Guinness record holder for having the most bountiful pencil collection in the world. Guided tours take visitors through four rooms, as Emilio’s unique collections are presented in detail, giving you the opportunity to marvel or scratch your head at his level of dedication—one that has yielded more than 24,000 pencils, in addition to 46,000 key chains from all over the world, upwards of 4,800 ashtrays, 3,500 perfume bottles, 5,500 pins, and way too much more.

After touring the museum, you can sample the farm’s artisanal jams and chocolates, a tasty collection of its own. Tours are available daily—just give Emilio a ring, and he’ll be happy to pencil you in.

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