Church of Santo Tomé, Toledo Church

Address: Iglesia de Santo Tomé, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Admission: Entrance to church free; Museo del Greco and guided visits to view El Greco painting may have separate fees

The Church of Santo Tomé is a medieval parish church in Toledo, Spain, notable for housing El Greco’s late 16th-century masterpiece “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.”

The principal highlight is the El Greco altarpiece installed in a side chapel; the building also displays a mix of Gothic and Mudéjar architectural elements, including a characteristic brick bell tower. The compact interior and the chapel containing the painting draw most visitors for concentrated viewing.

Built on the site of a former mosque after the Christian reconquest, the church’s present fabric reflects medieval construction with later alterations in the 16th century when the Count of Orgaz chapel was fitted out and El Greco’s work was commissioned. The painting has remained in the chapel since the late 1500s.

The church sits in Toledo’s historic centre in the old Jewish quarter, a short walk from Toledo Cathedral and other principal monuments of the city.

• El Greco painting: El Greco’s large altarpiece, painted c.1586-1588, is housed in a dedicated chapel and is the main reason most visitors come to the church.
• Architectural mix and location: The church combines Gothic and Mudéjar architectural elements and is located within Toledo’s compact historic centre, often visited on foot along short routes between monuments.

What to See#

• Chapel of the Burial of the Count of Orgaz: Chapelfronting the church where El Greco’s painting is installed; the work was painted in the late 16th century and remains the church’s principal attraction.
• Mudéjar bell tower: Brick bell tower exhibiting Mudéjar ornamental brickwork and typical medieval Toledo tower proportions, visible from the surrounding streets.

The church is in Toledo’s historic center, a short walk from the Cathedral and Plaza de Zocodover. From Toledo’s bus station, it is roughly a 10-15 minute walk through the old quarter; streets are narrow and often uphill, so plan for a leisurely stroll.

• Arrive before noon to see El Greco's The Burial of the Count of Orgaz with softer natural light in the church interior.
• Check the Museo del Greco and church timetables - combined visits can streamline ticketing and reduce waiting.
• Stand at the right-hand aisle to appreciate the painting's perspective and the artist's theatrical framing.