The Tavera Hospital

Phone: 925 220 451

Fax: 925 220 451

Email: hospitaltavera@fundacionmed...

Website: www.fundacionmedinacel...

Type of monument

Civil Architecture

Period

16th century.

Art style

Renaissance.

How to get there

Road transport

It was built in 1554 by Cardinal Tavera, who is buried in the Hospital’s church. The project was developed by Bartolomé de Bustamente and the work continued by Covarrubias, the Vergaras and, later, Vandelvira.

Passing though its Renaissance façade, we find in its interior a double courtyard of elegant proportions, perfectly symmetric, with Doric columns and Ionic arches.

In its church one can admire the tomb of Cardinal Tavera, which, as in the case of the façade, was carried out by Alonso Berruguete.

Equally outstanding is a magnificent Library that contains the Nobility Archiveand the Old Hospital Pharmacy, that has almost two thousand medicine bottles made of china from Talavera and Puente del Arzobispo. Amongst this collection of pots, flasks and bottles there is also a decorated piece of furniture with a large number of drawers, called “the apothecary’s eye”.

The building now houses an important collection of works of art made up of choice furniture that alternates with tapestries, sculptures, sumptuary objects and canvases by recognised masters such as El Greco, Sánchez Coello, Zurbarán, Ribera, Titian or Tintoreto.

Timetables

From Monday to Sunday and Public Holidays, 10.30am to 1.30pm and 3.30pm to 6pm.

Fees

Entry €3.

Services

It houses the Duque de Lerma Foundation, the Museum of the same name and the Nobility Archive.