San Telmo Museum Discover the history, culture and lifestyles of the Basque people

The San Telmo Museum is located in the old town of San Sebastián, in one of the few buildings that survived the city's fire of 1813 : a 16th-century Dominican convent that has been restored and expanded with an avant-garde design. Its layout masterfully combines the old section—in which the church stands out, with its impressive paintings by Sert and the cloister—with the new construction.

Opened in 1902, San Telmo is the oldest museum in the Basque Country and the largest center dedicated to interpreting Basque society. Its exhibition presents the most important events, behaviors, and ways of thinking and living that have shaped Basque society from its origins to the present day. For this reason, San Telmo is the ideal place to discover the history, culture, and lifestyles of the Basque people through a precious heritage combined with audiovisual and interactive resources to transform the visit into an experience to be discovered and appreciated.

The museum also boasts an art collection with works from the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, displayed chronologically. This allows us not only to delve into art history through the works of masters such as Tintoretto, Ribera, Rubens, Beruete, Fortuny, Madrazo, and Miró, but also to trace the evolution of artistic styles over time. The Basque art section is particularly noteworthy, featuring 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by artists such as Zamacois, Lecuona, Oteiza, Chillida, Nagel, and Ameztoy, among others.

In addition, the museum presents temporary exhibitions of various styles and themes which complement an interesting and high-quality program throughout the year.