Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro de Orihuela
Diocesan museum in the Episcopal Palace of Orihuela with a picture gallery, silverware and sculpture, including Velázquez’s La tentación de Santo Tomás de Aquino.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro de Orihuela was created on 9 May 1939, after the Civil War, with works and documents of ecclesiastical origin that had been kept during the conflict in the Museo Nacional de Orihuela and that the Church recovered. It was provisionally installed on the upper floor of the Episcopal Palace.
In the 1960s, because of the deterioration of the palace, the works were moved to the cathedral, the chapter house and the upper galleries of the cloister. After the Episcopal Palace was rehabilitated for museum use, the collection returned to its original home, and Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos inaugurated the museum on 24 February 2011.
The collection stands out for its picture gallery, with La tentación de Santo Tomás de Aquino by Velázquez, La vieja del candil by Matías Stom and a panel of San Miguel Arcángel, as well as silverware ensembles from the cathedral and from the parish of Santiago, and sculptures by Francisco Salzillo. The route includes the Sala Cero, the Early Christian Art Room and the Medieval Art Room.
Highlights
- La tentación de Santo Tomás de Aquino, by Velázquez
- La vieja del candil, by Matías Stom
- Silverware from the cathedral and from the parish of Santiago, including the great monstrance of Santiago
- Sculptures by Francisco Salzillo and a 13th-century enthroned Virgin
- 16th-century chasuble and the Crónicas de Núremberg (1493)
Permanent exhibition
- Colección permanente – Picture gallery, silverware, sculpture and textiles in the Episcopal Palace, with La tentación de Santo Tomás de Aquino by Velázquez as the most outstanding work.
- Founded
- 1939
- Operated by
- Diócesis de Orihuela-Alicante
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Pensioners, teachers and groups of more than 25 people (50% discount, with accreditation) |
| Seniors | €2Pensioners with accreditation: 50% discount. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Free admission for people with a physical or intellectual disability, with accreditation. |
| Students & apprentices | –Students with accreditation: free admission. |
| Groups (26+ people) | €2 per personGroups of more than 25 people: 50% discount. |
| Museum + Cathedral | €6Combined ticket with the Santa Iglesia Catedral de Orihuela (the cathedral alone costs €2). |
Free admission: Open days with free admission (in 2026: 18 April, 16 and 18 May, 17 July, 27 September, 9 and 12 October)
Admission is also free for priests, seminarians and religious men and women, and for professional study or research visits. The temporary exhibition room is included in the museum admission; the Sala Cero and the cloister are free.
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 museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Bookings for school and tourist visits by telephone on 673 425 681 or through the museum’s website. |
