Museo Catedralicio

About the museum

The Primate Cathedral of Toledo is the main church of the archdiocese and one of the great examples of Spanish Gothic. After the conquest of the city by Alfonso VI, the main mosque was placed under the patronage of Saint Mary, and in 1088 Pope Urban II recognised the see as primatial. The new cathedral was promoted by Archbishop Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada: a bull of 1222 authorised the works, which began around 1224–1226 with the presence of Ferdinand III at the laying of the first stone. The model was 13th-century French Gothic, adapted to Spanish taste.

Construction went on for centuries. By the end of the 13th century the apse and two bays of the naves were complete; in 1389 the first stone of the cloister was laid, in 1418 the west façade was begun and in 1425 the tower. Among later additions, notable ones are the Puerta de los Leones (Lions’ Gate, 1460–1466), the chapel of the Reyes Nuevos by Covarrubias (1531–1534), the dome of the Mozarabic chapel by Jorge Manuel Theotocópuli (1622–1631) and the Puerta Llana, built in 1800, through which the cultural visit now enters.

The route takes in the high chapel, the choir with its carvings by Berruguete and Vigarny, the baroque Transparente, the sacristy with its picture gallery (with works by El Greco, Caravaggio, Goya and Titian), the chapter house, the cloister, the crypt, the tower with the Campana Gorda and the monstrance by Enrique de Arfe. The Museum of Tapestries and Textiles houses one of the most valuable collections of Flemish tapestries in Europe.

Highlights

• Sacristy and picture gallery with works by El Greco, Caravaggio, Goya and Titian
• Chapter house with mudéjar-plateresque ceiling and paintings by Juan de Borgoña
• Choir with carvings by Berruguete and Vigarny
• El Transparente, a baroque work where light becomes sculpture
• Museum of Tapestries and Textiles with Flemish tapestries
• Monstrance by Enrique de Arfe

Permanent exhibitions

• Sacristía y pinacoteca – Ceremonial space with one of the most notable picture galleries in the country, with works by El Greco, Caravaggio, Goya and Titian.
• Museo de Tapices y Textiles – One of the most valuable collections of Flemish tapestries in Europe.
• Sala capitular – A high point of Toledo’s Renaissance, with a mudéjar-plateresque ceiling and mural paintings by Juan de Borgoña.

Admission & discounts

The basic ticket includes the Gothic architecture, the cloister, the chapter house and the sacristy with its picture gallery. Free entry, with accreditation, for people born in or resident in Toledo, people born in or resident in the archdiocese of Toledo (on Sundays only), priests and members of religious institutes.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Almost all areas of the places of interest are accessible to people with disabilities. Wheelchairs are lent free of charge at the ticket office.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the cultural visit is at the Puerta Llana, on calle Cardenal Cisneros, and the cathedral shop is opposite.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop La Catedral is on calle Cardenal Cisneros, opposite the Puerta Llana, and sells tickets and souvenirs. The café is temporarily out of service.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit