Casa de la Contaduría
Cathedral of Cádiz museum housed in 16th-century buildings above the seating of the Roman theatre, with gold and silverwork, sculpture and painting.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Casa de la Contaduría stands on the western cavea of the Roman theatre that Cornelio Balbo el Menor had built in the 1st century BC. Together with the tower of the Old Cathedral of Santa Cruz, the house of Canon Termineli and the Mudéjar Patio, which Dean Rajón had built around 1500, it forms a complex. All these buildings have been documented since the 16th century.
They first housed the dean's chaplains and choirboys and later served as a college for acolytes and seises (cathedral choirboys), with several interruptions, until the 1940s. The entrance opens onto Plaza de Fray Félix through a Mannerist portal with diamond-point rustication and a wrought-iron balcony bearing the cathedral's coat of arms.
The rooms opened to the public in 2000 and house the artistic heritage of Cádiz Cathedral: the large collection of gold and silverwork, including the Custodia del Millón, ivory sculptures, embroidered vestments, choir books, paintings from the 16th to the 19th centuries and memorabilia of the Cortes of 1812. The route passes through several patios and historic rooms and allows visitors to see remains of the Roman theatre.
Highlights
- Custodia del Millón, a jewel of 18th-century Cádiz goldsmithing
- Mudéjar Patio built over the seating of the Roman theatre
- 1812 Room with objects related to the Cortes and the Constitution
- Hispano-Philippine ivories and vestments embroidered with gold
- Illuminated choir books and an autograph letter by Santa Teresa
Permanent exhibitions
- Salas de orfebrería y arte sacro – The rooms of the Custodias, Silver, Ivories, Vestments and Choir Books show the treasure of the cathedral, with the Custodia del Millón as the main piece.
- Sala 1812 y Sala Romántica – They bring together objects linked to the Cortes and the Constitution of 1812, as well as works from the 19th century and earlier pieces.
- Patio Mudéjar y Patio Terminelli – Historic patios with brick arches, marble columns, 16th-century maps and copies of the plans of the new cathedral.
- Founded
- 2000
- Operated by
- Cabildo Catedral de Cádiz
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10Over-65s (€11), students aged 13 to 25 (€10) and people with a disability of up to 59% (€11); proof required |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | €11Over-65s, with proof of age. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €11Disability of up to 59%: €11. With a disability above 60%, admission is free. |
| Students & apprentices | €10Students aged 13 to 25, with proof. |
| Residents of the dioceses (tower, museum and audio guide) | €7Cathedral free for residents of the dioceses; proof required. |
Rates for admission to Cádiz Cathedral. The website does not specify what each ticket includes. Tickets are bought online or at sales points in the city (Santa Cueva, San Felipe Neri, Capilla del Pópulo, Hospital de Mujeres) and with the Cádiz Sacra pass.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The entrance to the Casa de la Contaduría is on Plaza de Fray Félix, next to the cathedral.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The cathedral's website offers an audio guide and estimates a full visit with audio guide at 1 hour 30 minutes for the whole complex. |
