10 Specialty Museums in Toledo That You Shouldn't Miss

On a spur of land, above a sweeping drop down to the river Tajo, one finds the Roca Tarpeya, the site chosen in 1953 by the sculptor Victorio Macho on which to set his house and workshop. Today, this magnificent seat is home to the headquarters of the Real Fundación de Toledo (Royal Foundation of Toledo).On his death, the artist left an important part of his work to the Spanish people, creating the Museo Victorio Macho (Victorio Macho Museum) and the Fundación Victorio Macho (Victorio Macho Foundation) to safeguard the future of his bequest. Some years later, in 1984, the Fundación Victorio Macho came to merge with the Real Fundación de Toledo, with the latter taking up the responsibilities imposed by the sculptor.The consequences of this merger are the renovation of the three buildings of the Roca Tarpeya- which will permit the reopening of the museum- and their adaptation to a number of new uses.The headquarters of the Real Fundación de Toledo are now to be found in what was formerly the house of Victorio Macho.The Workshop now has on its ground floor an Auditorium, presently housing a documentary film about the city of Toledo and its history, which is available for lectures, seminars and works meetings; and on its upper floor an Exhibition Hall for temporary exhibitions and other cultural functions.A great part of the collection bequeathed by the sculptor is on display in the Museo Victorio Macho, including such works as La Madre (The Mother), El Hermano Marcelo (Brother Marcelo), Torso Gitano (The Gypsy Torso); and portraits of such figures as Marañón, Unamuno, Cajal, Galdós, la Pasionaria and sketches for the great monuments he designed for both Spain and the Americas. Amongst the drawings on display one should also note the self-portraits, the succession of works depicting countrymen, and studies of nudes.The exhibition area is augmented by the crypt and the gardens which grant unsurpassed views of the river Tajo and the cigarrales in the surroundings of Toledo and many sheltered idyllic nooks from which to enjoy the scenery.*The Real Fundación de Toledo, is a private, nonprofit-making cultural institution created to contribute to preserving, revitalising and promoting the cultural heritage of Toledo’s historic city.

The only museum of its kind in Spain which shows, in a superb setting (an Islamic Cave X century), a collection of pieces, texts, characters and symbols that have been part of the customs, legends, traditions and superstitions various peoples who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula and the two archipelagos.