After four years of being closed for architectural renovations and to undergo an expansion, the Museo San Telmo reopened its doors on March 28, 2011. Founded in 1902, it is regarded as the oldest museum in the Basque Country and houses an important amount of works that belong to Spain's cultural heritage. Since its founding, it has been a cultural center dedicated to promote knowledge and to incite the development of thought. The museum's permanent collection is divided into several periods. Old and new acquisitions amount to more than 26,000 pieces that confirm the cultural importance of the museum. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures, engravings, ceramics, weapons, plans, and new findings that appeared during the building's renovation like traces of mannerist paintings from the Sixteenth Century by painter Pedro Echevarría-among others. The firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos was in charge of the architectural project that also included the restoration of the original building. Originally built in the Sixteenth Century, the building had to be restored and checked with in order to maintain and prolong the life of the original objects of the building. The original stone and wood of the old construction was treated and some elements added in 1934 were removed. The new wing is covered by a vegetal wall created-in agreement with the architectural firm heading the project-by artists Leopoldo Ferrán and Agustina Otero. Through perforated panels, this layer recreates the same formal dynamic of the stones found in Mount Urgull, an elevation contiguous to the museum and the seashore. More information available at
http://www.museosantelmo.com