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Museum · San Sebastián, Basque Country
San Telmo Museoa
Museum of Basque society in a 16th-century Dominican convent at the foot of Urgull, with a Renaissance cloister, murals by José María Sert and a contemporary extension.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About San Telmo Museoa
The San Telmo Museoa occupies the former Dominican convent of San Telmo, built in the 16th century on the slope of Monte Urgull, at the end of the Parte Vieja. It was one of the few buildings to escape the 1813 fire. Since 1932 it has been a museum, and in 2011 it received an extension with a perforated aluminum façade covered in plants that fits into the hillside.
The museum presents itself as a museum of Basque society and tells the history of the Basque Country from prehistory to the present, with everyday objects, tools, costumes, photographs and works of art. There are rooms on the Basque language, fishing, industry, migration and 20th-century political life.
The Renaissance cloister, with arches and Basque funerary sculptures, the disc-shaped stelae, is a peaceful spot. The convent’s former church has walls covered by murals by José María Sert, painted in 1929–1930, with scenes of history, legends and Basque work in golden tones.
The fine arts collection includes El Greco, Rubens and Basque painters such as Zuloaga.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
Best time
On a rainy day or in the mid-afternoon. It is closed on Mondays; confirm the opening hours.
How to get there
It is on Plaza de Zuloaga, in the Parte Vieja, at the foot of Monte Urgull, a 10-minute walk from La Concha.
Tip
Go straight to the church to see Sert’s murals and then tour the cloister and the galleries. One weekday often has special entry conditions; check in advance. When you leave, climb up Urgull via the path beside it.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about San Telmo Museoa
What is in San Telmo?
The history and culture of the Basque Country, a Renaissance cloister, works of art, and the church with murals by José María Sert.
Who painted the church murals?
The Catalan painter José María Sert, between 1929 and 1930.
Is the museum in the Parte Vieja?
Yes, at Plaza de Zuloaga, on the neighborhood’s edge with Monte Urgull.