The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville is considered the second most important art gallery in Spain, only behind the Prado Museum in Madrid. Discover all the details of this art gallery with our guided tour.
It was built on the site of the former convent of La Merced Calzada, with a Gothic-Mudejar construction spanning a period between the 13th and 15th centuries, with renovation work carried out by the architect Juan de Oviedo y la Bandera in the 17th century and Leonardo de Figueroa in the 18th century, as well as the neoclassical façade added in the 19th century.
Although the building today is used as a museum, it still retains all the essence of a convent, in fact it is structured around the central cloister and its three large courtyards and has an imperial staircase that gives access to the upper floor which is a real marvel, and whose model had a great influence on convents in Latin America. On a guided tour of the Seville Museum of Fine Arts you will be able to admire its unique architecture.
A large percentage of the works of art that can be seen today in the Seville Museum of Fine Arts come from convents, churches and monasteries that were confiscated during the liberal government of Mendizábal, when the state expropriated church property. The Sevillian Museum also inherited the artistic plundering suffered by the city in the first half of the 19th century by foreign agents, especially the Bonapartist Marshal Soult, who requisitioned some 1,000 works of art, many of which were never to return home.
The current collection of paintings is divided into two main groups: the Sevillian Baroque, which alone justifies a visit to the museum, since the work of Murillo, Zurbarán or Valdés Leal cannot be understood without visiting these rooms, and the Romanticism and genre painting, with works of supreme quality.
In the Museum you can also find works of other decorative arts, not only sculpture, but also ceramics, gold and silver work and furniture.
Our visit to the Seville Museum of Fine Arts with an official guide lasts approximately two and a half hours.
Book your Guided Tour to the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville
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Duration
2,5 Hours
Place
Sevilla
Available Date
On Demand
My aim is that you get to know my city in a pleasant and friendly way. All my guided tours are adapted to each visitor, taking into account their personal tastes. Seville offers a lot, a wide cultural heritage, a rich gastronomy or vibrant traditions. That’s why showing this city, not only requires knowledge but also knowing how to connect and move the public, and this is given by the experience of more than 25 years that I have been an official local guide in Seville. In Sevilla Walks you will find different types of tours always adapted to the public to which they are finally addressed.
Manuel Campos
Tourist Guide of Seville with License 155
Must-See Attractions at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville
- The Museum Building - Located in the former Convent of La Merced Calzada, this historic building is an architectural gem in itself. On our guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, we will admire every corner of this jewel of Spanish Mannerism.
- Murillo Room - Dedicated to the famous Sevillian painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, showcasing some of his most iconic works.
- Zurbarán Room - A space dedicated to Francisco de Zurbarán, where you can admire his magnificent religious paintings.
- Velázquez Room - Although limited, the pieces by Diego Velázquez in the museum are of great importance.
- Patio del Aljibe - Of the three cloisters that form the convent, this beautiful interior courtyard stands out. It offers a tranquil respite and is ideal for contemplation between gallery visits. It is well worth taking the time to admire its tiles.
- Sevillian Paint School - Throughout the exhibition, we will see prominent works by renowned painters of the Sevillian school, such as Valdés Leal and Herrera el Viejo. Their oils transport us back to the Golden Age through their masterpieces.
- 19th Century Painting Room - Features a diverse collection of 19th-century works, reflecting the rich artistic history of that period.
