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Former Hospital of the Venerable Priests

The Former Hospital of the Venerable Priests is a 17th-century Baroque building in Seville's Santa Cruz neighbourhood. It was founded in 1675 by canon Justino de Neve as a residence for elderly and destitute priests. The building, the work of Juan Domínguez and Leonardo de Figueroa, is arranged around a square central courtyard with galleries supported by marble columns and a central fountain designed by Bernardo Simón de Pineda, with tiles by Melchor Moreno. The church, dedicated to St Peter and St Ferdinand, has a single nave covered by a barrel vault and is decorated with mural frescoes by Juan de Valdés Leal and his son Lucas Valdés, depicting scenes such as St Martin presiding at the emperor's table and St Ambrose refusing Theodosius entry. The dome has eight portraits of bishops of the early Spanish Church. The building now houses the Centro Velázquez, which displays works attributed to Diego Velázquez, such as Santa Rufina and The Imposition of the Chasuble on St Ildefonso, alongside paintings by Francisco Pacheco, Murillo and Bartolomeo Cavarozzi. The hospital was restored between 1987 and 1991 and has since been the seat of the Fundación Focus-Abengoa, now the Fundación Focus Loyola. In 2025 it passed into the hands of the archbishopric and was handed over to the cathedral chapter as a museum.

Things to do at Former Hospital of the Venerable Priests: 11 missions

• Look at the Sculptures of San Fernando and San PedroAdmire the sculptures of San Fernando and San Pedro located beneath the choir.
• Explore the libraryVisit the library located on the upper floor.
• Admire the main altarpieceAdmire the main altarpiece, dated 1889, depicting the Apotheosis of San Fernando.
• Look at the stepped central fountain with circular stepsLook at the stepped central fountain with circular steps decorated with tiles in the Sevillian courtyard.
• Look at the pulpit, made of polychrome marble and fine woodsLook at the pulpit, made of polychrome marble and fine woods, the work of Francisco de Barahona.
• Look at the altarpiece of the ConceptionLook at the figure of San Esteban in the altarpiece of the Conception, an anonymous 17th-century work.
• Admire the mural frescoes by Valdés LealAdmire the mural frescoes by Valdés Leal that decorate the nave.
• Explore the Velázquez CenterExplore the Velázquez Center, dedicated to the famous painter Diego Velázquez.
• Explore the exhibition centreTour the exhibition centre of the Centro Velázquez.
• Admire the upper viewing towerAdmire the upper viewing tower, decorated in Mudéjar style, on the southeast corner.
• Visit Old Hospital de los Venerables SacerdotesVisit Old Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes in Seville and recognise the place on the ground.

Near Former Hospital of the Venerable Priests

Source: Fuentes verificadas