Museums and culture

Julio Romero de Torres Museum

3 min read

Written by official guides

The Julio Romero de Torres Museum occupies part of the former Hospital de la Caridad, in Plaza del Potro, opposite the Museum of Fine Arts. It is devoted entirely to the work of the Cordoban painter Julio Romero de Torres (1874-1930), with a significant part of his best-known canvases.

In this article we cover its history, the paintings not to miss, the museum's opening hours and how to get to Plaza del Potro.

History of the Julio Romero de Torres Museum

The museum was created in 1931, barely a year after the painter's death. His widow, Francisca Pellicer, and his children Rafael, Amalia and María decided not to sell the work and to donate it to form a museum devoted to his memory. It was inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Niceto Alcalá Zamora, on 23 November 1931.

The building was declared a national monument in 1962 and has been refurbished several times; the latest renovation reopened its doors on 24 January 2012, with nearly 5,000 visitors in the first five days.

What to see in the Julio Romero de Torres Museum

These are the must-see paintings of the collection:

1. La chiquita piconera

Painted in 1930, the same year as the artist's death, it is considered his pictorial testament and is the most reproduced work in the museum.

2. El pecado (Sin)

Considered one of the great nudes of 20th-century Spanish painting, it is exhibited in the museum on loan from the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

3. Nuestra Señora de Andalucía

Painted in 1907, it is one of the artist's most representative paintings on religious and Andalusian themes.

4. Cante hondo

Devoted to the world of flamenco, one of the recurring themes in the work of Romero de Torres.

5. Poema a Córdoba

A pictorial tribute to his home city, bringing together many of the symbols that run through his whole work.

Julio Romero de Torres Museum opening hours and prices

In the winter season (16 September to 15 June), the museum opens Tuesday to Friday from 8:15 to 20:15, Saturdays from 9:30 to 17:30, and Sundays and public holidays from 8:15 to 14:15. In summer (16 June to 15 September), the hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 to 14:15. Closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December.

The general ticket costs €5. It is free for under-17s and for unemployed people.

The museum has induction loops for people with hearing impairments, Braille panels and multimedia content with subtitles and sign-language interpretation.

How to get to the Julio Romero de Torres Museum

The museum is at Plaza del Potro, 1, next to the Posada del Potro and opposite the Museum of Fine Arts, a short walk from the Mosque-Cathedral through the pedestrian historic centre.

The visit combines well with the Museum of Fine Arts, in the same Plaza del Potro setting, and with a stroll past the Posada del Potro and the rest of the historic centre to the Mosque-Cathedral.