Museum of Fine Arts of Seville

Anyone hoping to understand Sevillian Baroque painting should make this museum a must-see stop. Within its walls you'll find the finest work of Zurbarán, Murillo and Valdés Leal, the three great names of the city's golden century, and the collection is rounded off by a remarkable selection of 19th-century Andalusian painting. It's no wonder it is considered one of the most important art galleries in Spain.

The building itself is part of the experience. The museum occupies the former Convent of La Merced, one of several convent buildings left empty after the disentailment of church property. Of all of them, it was the one chosen in 1839 to house the collection, so today the works are displayed in a space that still bears the memory of its religious past, lending a special charm to a stroll through the galleries.

Its history begins with a Royal Order of 16 September 1835, which established it under the name «Museo de Pinturas» (Museum of Paintings). Once a home had been chosen, it officially opened its doors in 1841, making it an institution with almost two centuries of service to art. Its value was recognised in 1962, when it was declared a historic-artistic monument, and today it is protected as a Site of Cultural Interest in the monument category.

Before going in, it's worth pausing for a moment in the Plaza del Museo, the pleasant square that opens out in front of the façade. It is presided over by a statue of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a very fitting touch: the Sevillian painter seems to welcome those arriving to admire some of his works and those of his contemporaries. It's the perfect prelude to a visit that deserves to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.