The construction of the Tavera Hospital begins in 1544. The construction of the Hospital is framed within the urban reforms that were carried out in the city after the establishment of the court of Emperor Charles V in Toledo. In 1541 Pope Paul III approved the bull for the construction, in front of the Bisagra door, of a hospital that would also serve as the pantheon of its founder: Cardinal Juan Pardo Tavera.
The hospital rose It followed the traces of Alonso de Covarrubias with the dedication of San Juan Bautista, but due to its location outside the city it has always been known as the “Hospital de Afuera”. It has sometimes been considered one of the first completely classical buildings in Castile, built following the Renaissance principles of health and sanitation. These types of facilities had to be located far from the population, in places with fresh wind and preferably outside the walls to avoid possible infections. After Alonso de Covarrubias, the works were continued by Bartolomé Bustamante and later Nicolás de Vergara Mozo intervened.
The structure of the building differs from the traditional typology of royal hospitals organized around four cloisters, but the Tavera hospital has a rectangular floor plan organized around two patios, because The work would have remained incomplete after the death of Cardinal Tavera in 1550, whose tomb was made by Alonso de Berrrugete is located in the central nave of the church.
Currently the Museum that belongs to the Medinaceli Foundation, allows you to visit the church and its crypt, the old pharmacy and admire an impressive collection of Flemish tapestries and furniture ancient. The Museum is also a gallery with works by renowned painters such as El Greco, Tintoretto or Luca Giordani among others.
Open from 10/22/2021:
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. / 15:00-18:30 hrs
The box office closes 1 hour before.