Museo Sal Telmo Museoa

HISTORY OF THE MONASTERY

The San Telmo Museum is located in the former Dominican monastery, built in the 16th century.

The Dominican presence in the town was met with hostility by certain sectors of the population and clergy, reluctant to allow a new order to settle in the town as this would inevitably entail more taxes for some and a “threat” to others.

However, Alonso de Idiaquez, a well known Guipuzcoan and State Secretary to Charles V at the time, decided to champion the Dominican cause. Idiaquez, and his wife Gracia de Olazabal after his death, used his influence to promote the construction of the building, where he hoped to be buried.

As a result, the monastery was built on a piece of land which at the time lay just beyond what was considered the city limits, between the rampart and the base of Mount Urgull.

Once the building was completed, the Dominican monks, possibly hoping to gain local sympathy, dedicated the monastery to St. Elmo (San Telmo), patron saint of sailors.