San Telmo Museum
San Telmo Museoa
A Basque Society museum housed in a converted 16th-century monastery, where you can learn about Basque history and culture beyond the cloister and golden murals of the church.
The San Telmo Museum is located in the northeast corner of the Old Town, at the foot of Mount Urgull. Its core is a 16th-century Dominican monastery, converted into a museum in 1932 and reopened in 2011 with a modern extension covered in plants.
The permanent exhibition, 'Basque Society and Citizenship', uses archaeological finds, folk objects, paintings, and multimedia to present the history, language, religion, and social change of the Basque region from prehistoric times to the present. Inside the former monastery church is a huge golden mural painted in the 1930s by Catalan painter José María Sert, depicting Basque traditions and history. It is truly breathtaking. The Renaissance cloister is also beautiful.
The museum is usually closed on Mondays. Check the official website for admission fees.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00 (check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Parte Vieja, San Sebastián
- Basilica of Santa María del Coro
- Monte Urgull
- Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium
- La Concha Beach
- San Sebastián Aquarium
- Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
- Zurriola Beach