You are looking at a multi-story facade featuring a solid, rough-textured rusticated stone ground floor with dark iron window grates, topped by smooth upper levels, and a deep arched stone entryway on the right. This is the Museum of the Cathedral of Murcia. It occupies the spaces of the old Chapter House, which was essentially the boardroom where the cathedral clergy would meet to handle official business, as well as the mid-fourteenth-century Gothic cloister, a traditional covered walkway that once surrounded an inner courtyard.
The museum was founded in nineteen fifty-six by the decree of Bishop Miguel de los Santos, but the space itself represents a brilliant piece of architectural problem-solving. During a recent and massive rehabilitation project, engineers and archaeologists managed to recover almost the entire original structure of the Gothic arches. But as they dug deeper beneath the floors, they made a fascinating discovery. They unearthed the foundation, ancient dwellings, and structural remains of the massive Arab mosque that originally stood on this exact site before the Christian cathedral was ever built.
Now, rather than burying that history again, the designers did something very clever. They installed a structural glass walkway right over the archaeological remains. So, if you step inside, you can literally walk suspended above medieval Islamic architecture while looking at Catholic relics from the sixteenth century. Talk about a visually layered history.
The collection housed inside spans from the Roman era all the way to the present day. You will find massive Roman stone sarcophagi from the third century, including the beautifully carved Sarcophagus of the Muses, sharing space with stunning Gothic altarpieces. There is also a spectacular Renaissance painting by Hernando de Llanos, an artist who was an actual, literal student of Leonardo da Vinci.
We also have a great thematic connection here. A few minutes ago, we walked down Gran Vía Sculptor Francisco Salzillo. Well, this museum is where you can see exactly why the man got a major street named after him. They hold three of his most important wooden carvings here, including his striking sculpture of Saint Jerome and the intricately detailed Christ of the Lectern.
The museum's treasury is equally staggering. You will find towering works of silver and gold, like the Corpus Monstrance crafted by Antonio Pérez de Montalto. A monstrance is an ornate vessel used to display the consecrated communion bread, and this one is an absolute masterclass in metalwork.
Oh, and do not miss the ancient Moorish bell dating back to the fourteenth century. It was historically known as the bell of conjurations, famously rung by the clergy in an attempt to magically ward off incoming storms, agricultural plagues, and evil spirits. Because naturally, nothing terrifies a severe weather system quite like a very loud piece of bronze.
If you want to see these incredible artifacts and architectural layers for yourself, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from ten AM to five thirty PM.
Take your time exploring the history here. When you are ready, let us continue.
