The Museo de San Telmo is an exceptional museum devoted to the cultural heritage of the Basque country. The museum occupies the Renaissance-era buildings of a 16th-century convent in the Old Town.
Offering visitors an overview of Basque culture, the diverse collection is presented in different departments such as fine arts, history, archaeology, and ethnology. The fine arts collection exhibits a wide array of paintings, drawings, engravings, and sculptures.
Among the highlights are paintings by El Greco, Alonso Cano, Rubens, Depièce, Morán, Ribera, and Coello. The Basque artists represented include Ugarte, Zubiaurre, Echagüe, Salaberría, Arteta, and Zuloaga.
The archaeology department displays an extensive collection of coins, ceramics, and pre-Columbian artifacts, while the history department presents a unique exhibit on the history of weapons from the 15th century to the present day. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with free admission on Tuesdays.
