Museo de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Museum), Toledo

It is impossible to imagine Toledo without thinking of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, also known as El Greco ("The Greek"). El Greco won the hearts of Toledo in his time, and many of his works can be seen in the Santa Cruz Museum. The museum is in the old Hospital de Santa Cruz, founded in the 15th century by archbishop Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza.

The archbishop envisaged a centralized location to harbor orphaned and abandoned children in the city. The building is in a Greek cross plan with two of four courtyards completed. The vast Plateresque facade is by architect Alonso de Covarrubias. The crossing with ribbed vaults covers the museum's two main floors.

Four galleries, made by Enrique Egas, connect with the courtyards on two floors. Generally, Moorish traditions are combined with Flemish artistry and some Mannerist elements. The entablature is flanked by false columns with niches and stone canopies. The front pediment features Saint Helen discovering the True Cross.

The museum is dedicated to Archeology, Fine Arts, and Decorative Arts. Works by El Greco at the museum include The Immaculate Conception altarpiece and Veronica with the Holy Face.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Toledo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Museo de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Museum)
Sight Location: Toledo, Spain (See walking tours in Toledo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

El Greco's Masterpieces

Walking Tours in Toledo, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Toledo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Toledo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

El Greco's Masterpieces

Domnnikos Theotokopoulos, most widely known as El Greco or "The Greek," was a Greek painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. El Greco was well ahead of his time. His dramatic and expressionistic style is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism of the 20th century.

El Greco was born in Crete, Greece, and studied painting in Italy. In 1577, he... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Toledo Introduction Walking Tour

Located on the banks of the Tagus River in Spain, Toledo is called the "City of the Three Cultures." The cultures would be Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They didn't always get along, but each has left its mark. Romans visited the area as early as 193 BC. Roman historian Livy referred to the city as "a small city, but fortified by location."

In 546, the early... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Toledo's Ancient Walls, Gates and Bridges

Other than its signature 鈥淭oledo steel鈥�, the Spanish city of Toledo is known for its historic architecture, particularly the ancient mammoth fortifications 鈥� a testament to the strength of the city that has maintained its borders for well over a thousand years.

Toledo's soaring walls were first built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD and then further expanded, over the following... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

51爆料网