The Hospital of the Holy Charity
What will we see on our guided tour?
We will visit one of the best examples of Sevillian Baroque architecture: the Hospital of the Holy Charity. Founded in the 15th century, it provided shelter for the sick without resources and burial for the homeless and those without families. It continues to operate as a nursing home today.
We will marvel at its facade, at its yard of Genoese fountains and Dutch tiles, with its Council chamber… We will talk about the figure of Don Juan and its relationship with Miguel de Mañara, who did so much for this place… We will delve into his Church of St. George with great works of art Valdés Leal, Murillo, Pedro Roldán… We'll give you a little preview, keep reading…
Building Foundation
Sisterhood dedicated to charity towards the poor and more disadvantaged people founded on the 15th century. It welcomed sick people without resources and give them burial to the executed and unclaimed corpses.
The building and its facade
It is a building of Baroque style, especially inside the Church, which is one of the most important works of the Spanish Baroque.
His architect, Leonardo de Figueroa, He was the same architect as the architect of the Church of El Salvador, along with other important religious and civil buildings in the city, as well as the Church of San Luis de los Franceses.
The facade It consists of three sections and has a fairly simple decoration despite being Baroque. We will find the figures of two saints important to the Brotherhood and to the city of Seville: Saint George, King Saint Ferdinand.
In the upper bodies, five shine by reflecting the sun. tiled surfaces.
The Shipyards These are warehouses that adjoin this building. They were built by Alfonso X the Wise and were part of the Hospital.
Main courtyard
This is accessed through the old gatehouse to a large main courtyard, divided by a archway with a semicircular arch and marble columns.
Two are located Genoese sources marble and some very beautiful tiled surfaces.
Council Chamber
We'll find some works of art and also objects related to the figure of Miguel de Mañana which we will also talk about during our visit…
Second courtyard
It's not always open to visitors; the last time we went it was under construction. However, I can tell you that there's a garden there connected to a legend about the mythical figure who inspired the character of... Don Juan, an archetypal character of Spanish literature who was later recreated in world literature.
Church of St. George
We finally arrived at the true marvel of the Hospital de la Caridad: the Church of St. George. Here, we let ourselves be carried away by the Baroque philosophical literature of the magnificent works of art of Valdés Leal, Murillo, Pedro Roldán…A small universe within such a splendid place in Seville that will leave you astonished.
As soon as we entered, Hieroglyphics of the last days by Valdés Leal They warn us about everything that is to come in this experience.
The work of Murillo It will fill us with sweetness and realism, bringing us closer to the divine figures in a simple and down-to-earth way, but never losing sight of the ideals of the Brotherhood of Holy Charity. We will discuss all of this with our art expert and guide…
The ornate decoration of the altarpieces of Bernardo Simón de Pineda They blend perfectly with the masterful wood carvings of one of the great sculptors of the Spanish Baroque and father of The Roldana, Pedro Roldán.
One need only look up at the dome, as if gazing upon the magnificent creation of the sky, of the universe, to feel dwarfed by the magnitude of the quality of the mural paintings and all their symbolic meaning, which has much to say about an era, a world so far removed from our present. Here again is the hand and mind of Valdés Leal.
The Main Altarpiece It's a veritable theatrical machine where the previous masters shine once again. It's worth listening to our explanations, but also taking a moment of silence and letting the works themselves convey all the emotion the artists intended to express.
The sumptuous baldachin It seems to want to step out of the picture to draw us towards a reality, towards the Holy Burial of Christ, so splendidly treated by Pedro Roldán.
We cannot stop look and admire This entire treasure chest speaks to us of art, history, and values that are part of a legacy that continues to this day in the form of devotion and fascination.
On this visit of approximately 1.5h duration You can enjoy all this and much more with us, but first, I'd like to show you why you should choose us…
Why visit the Charity Hospital with us?
- Are Official Tourist Guides accredited.
- Skip the lines. We'll make the reservation for you.
- Our guide and coordinator is Bachelor of Fine Arts and holds the Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude, communication skills and a lot of empathy.
- Have extensive experience as a tour guide and in teaching.
- We love it history, art and culture, and above all, our work.
- Our guide and coordinator is fellow countrywoman of Seville, lover and artist of the city, learn the artistic techniques firsthand.
- Cordiality, good work, and affection Our work is our hallmark.
We invite you to contact us and to experience firsthand one of the most beautiful sensations in our city: the ability to enjoy Baroque art, its history, and its emotion through the Guided tour of the Hospital de La Caridad with Culturea Experience.
