Museo de la Colegiata de Santa María

About the museum

The museum opened in 2003 in a building dated 1560 that housed the Sancti Spiritus hospital until 1868. Later it housed the Escuelas de Niñas (girls' schools) and then served as a carpentry workshop and furniture store, until Borja Town Council acquired it in 1998 and restored it for this purpose. The project arose from an agreement between the Diocese of Tarazona and the town council.

The rooms are spread over three floors around a central courtyard with four ringed columns (columnas anilladas), a singular example of Aragonese Renaissance architecture. Almost all the works come from the collegiate church of Santa María itself: some were acquired or donated for worship, and others were deposited there after the suppression of the four convents of friars that existed in the town.

The collection includes a sacred music room with the choirbooks (cantorales) of the collegiate church and two bajones (historic bassoons), a recumbent tomb of Gregorio de Messa from the hermitage of the Sepulcro, and paintings and panels, among them Gothic panels from the mid-15th century by Nicolás and Martín Zahortiga, which formed part of the high altarpiece until the 17th century. The last rooms bring together reliquaries, crosses and other goldsmith's pieces and liturgical vestments.

Highlights

• Renaissance building of 1560 with courtyard of ringed columns
• Gothic panels by Nicolás and Martín Zahortiga
• Recumbent tomb of Gregorio de Messa
• Sacred music room with choirbooks and bajones
• Reliquaries and goldsmith's work from the collegiate church and the Borja convents

Permanent exhibition

• Colección de arte sacro de la colegiata de Santa María – Seven rooms over three floors with Gothic panels, sacred music, sculpture, reliquaries and goldsmith's work from the collegiate church and the former Borja convents.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Borja (convenio con el Obispado de Tarazona)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

According to the Equalitas Vitae record (information from 2018): access by ramp and a door more than 80 cm wide, floors connected by lift, and an accessible toilet. There are QR codes with videos in sign language and Spanish subtitles.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is next to the Colegiata de Santa María, in the historic centre of Borja.

Amenities & 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