Bien de Interés Cultural, Historical Heritage of Spain and an important baroque building from the 17th century. The Hospital de los Venerables, located in the neighborhood of Santa Cruz is a key building to understand the history of Seville and approach the figure of Diego Velázquez. Not to mention the great architectural beauty of the monument. Still haven’t visited it? Don’t worry because you are in time.
The Hospital de los Venerables and its history
It all begins in 1627, when the Brotherhood of Silence decided to rent a house to care for and give asylum to the elderly, poor and disabled. However, it was not until 1675 that the construction of the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes began at the initiative of Canon Justino de Neve.
After passing through the hands of the architects Juan Domínguez and Leonardo de Figueroa (the latter, responsible for great monumental works such as the church of San Luis de los Franceses, the Museum of Fine Arts or the façade of the church of El Salvador), the works were finished in 1697. This was the year in which the last brick was laid on what would become an emblematic building that, among many other things, was also a weaving factory in 1840, the headquarters of the Focus-Abengoa Foundation since 1991 and the current Diego Velázquez Research Center, losing its welfare function in the 70s of the twentieth century.
What can you do at the Hospital de los Venerables in Seville?
Currently, the Hospital de los Venerables offers a wide cultural offer with which to enjoy your stays in different ways: from visiting its collection of Contemporary Art in what was one of the infirmaries of the hospital, to attend plays or take a tour of some of its main rooms such as the sacristy, the courtyard or the Baroque church whose dome and vaults are covered with fresco paintings.
And if you fancy something (even) more magical, the Hospital de los Venerables also hosts candlelight concerts with Candlelight. Live music in an intimate and unique atmosphere? Yes, thank you.
Facts, curiosities and interesting things about the Hospital de los Venerables
1. Murillo painted a picture for the Hospital because of his friendship with its founder.
The church was built in 1689 and is dedicated to San Fernando. In it we can see frescoes by Valdés Leal and his son Lucas Valdés or the figures of San Fernando and San Pedro painted by Pedro Roldán. Murillo painted an Immaculate Conception for the hospital because of his friendship with its founder, Justino. However, the work was transferred to the Prado Museum.
2. It has paintings by Velázquez, Pacheco or Cavarozzi.
Murillo is not the only connection that this place has with the fifth art and, as a result of the purchase of Velázquez’s Santa Rufina, in 2007 the Hospital became the place chosen to host the Diego Velázquez Research Center. Some of its rooms were adapted to exhibit this work, as well as other paintings by Murillo, Francisco Pacheco and Bartolomeo Cavarozzi.
3. It was one of the most frequented corrales of comedies in the Sevillian Baroque.
Backed by the Counts of Gelves, the site of the Hospital de los Venerables was occupied by the corral de comedias de Doña Elvira. It is one of the best known during the Seville of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries with theatrical representations of recognized works of the time by authors such as Tirso de Molina and Lope de Vega.
4. It houses a large library dedicated to the study of the Baroque.
Since 1991 the Hospital has been the headquarters of the Focus-Abengoa Foundation, since it was the cultural entity that restored it between 1987 and 1991. One of its first tasks was the creation of the Library of the Baroque, which currently has a collection of some thirty-seven thousand volumes dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century.
How to get to the Hospital de los Venerables in Seville?
Located in the central district of Santa Cruz, the Hospital de los Venerables is located at number 8 of the Plaza de los Venerables, just 12 minutes walk from the Torre del Oro. And it can be easily reached by public transport, either by metro at the Puerta de Jerez stop (line 1), light rail (T1) or bus (01, 03, 05, 21, 40, C2, C4).
What are the opening hours of the Hospital de los Venerables in Seville?
The general visit can be made from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00. On the other hand, the schedule as an Asset of Cultural Interest takes place on Mondays from 15:00 to 19:00. In all cases, the last show takes place one hour before closing time.
When is the Hospital de los Venerables in Seville free?
Every Monday, the Hospital has a free schedule as an Asset of Cultural Interest, divided into different time slots to choose from. Of course, the capacity is limited, subject to exclusive online reservation. Also, the entrance is free any day for children under 12 years old or people with a functional diversity over 65%.
The Hospital de los Venerables is a Baroque jewel located in the historic center of the city, at number 8 of the Plaza de los Venerables, which can be reached on foot or by public transport by light rail, metro or bus. An emblematic place that adds to the many treasures hidden in Seville.