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Museum that occupies a former Dominican convent, a place to discover the history, culture and way of life of the Basque people
Located at the foot of Mount Urgull, the San Telmo Museum in San Sebastián occupies a former 16th-century Dominican convent with a beautiful cloister. Reopened in 2011 after renovation, the museum has been enlarged and now boasts a contemporary facade pierced by thousands of small holes that let in vegetation. The San Telmo Museum is the place to discover the history, culture and lifestyles of the Basque people. In the convent church, the Catalan artist Josep Maria Sert has explored themes of Basque culture such as the "fueros" (ancient local laws), whaling and the Guernika tree in a series of 11 canvases. The museum also houses a remarkable collection of stelae from the Basque Country, some of which date back to pre-Roman times. Comprising over 80 pieces, this collection is an exceptional testimony to Basque funerary art. The ethnographic section focuses on Basque society and, in particular, the cult of ancestors through a collection of "argizaiolas", carved wooden candle boards used to keep vigil over the deceased. The fine arts section features a collection of Basque art, including works by the famous sculptors Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida, as well as the figurative painter Vicente Ameztoy and others from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and offers a variety of activities (see website).
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Further information
Opening time and information on SAN TELMO MUSEOA
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10-20h. Admission €10. Free on Tuesdays.
Owner's Message
The San Telmo Museum, inaugurated in 1902, is located in the old town and is the oldest in Euskadi. It was reopened in 2011 following a five-year rehabilitation and expansion process. It is the largest museum dedicated to the interpretation of Basque society, from prehistory to the present day.
The museum covers an area of 11,000 square metres and includes over 26,000 exhibits. Part of this collection is on display to the public in several exhibition areas: Traces of Memory, The Awakening of Modernity and the Historical Collection of Arte. In addition, the audiovisual exhibition from the convent to the museum invites visitors to discover the evolution of San Telmo.
In addition, the convent tower houses a space called the "Museum of Gipuzkoa Museums", which offers information on the centers making up the Gipuzkoa Museum Network.
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