The Museo Bellas Artes de Seville (Museum of Fine Arts of Seville)is housed in an elegant building off the tree-shaded Plaza de Museo. The building can trace its roots back to the 16th century when it was a convent. Indeed, it was a convent until 1839 when it became the provincial museum. By 1941, all of the other disciplines had departed, and this ornate building became solely dedicated to fine art.

By some accounts, the museum hosts the second largest collection of art in Spain. It conatins works from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. Many of the works came to the museum after the convents and monasteries that were their home became from secularized. As a result, the collection has a religious flavor. However, there are also portraits and landscapes.

The collection is dominated by lesser-known Spanish artists. But the museum also has a few works by such artistic stars as El Greco, Velazquez, Murillo, Zurbaran and Sorolla.

In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions.

Inside, the galleries surround peaceful garden courtyards, which can be quite beautiful in the sunshine. Some of the galleries on the ground floor have high vaulted ceilings that make impressive settings for the large religious works housed in those galleries.
​
The galleries on the upper floor are modern but smaller and fairly dark. Signage is in Spanish.

For more information on visiting, see the museum's website.

Places to see art ​ - Museum of Fine Art of Seville - Seville, Spain