2014: Year of El Greco in Toledo

Toledo’s always worth a visit. This year however there is an additional attraction: The town celebrates the “Año Greco” (Year of El Greco) with an extensive cultural program that includes the best exhibition ever of the painter’s work.

Domenicos Theotocopoulos, better known as “El Greco” (The Greek), was born in 1541 on the Greek island of Crete and died 1614 in Toledo.

Now, 400 years after his death, the Spanish town pays tribute to its most universal citizen – with an impressive program. The commemoration of the fourth centenary of the death of El Greco will be a milestone in the history of the painter and Toledo: Throughout 2014 visitors and residents can see exhibitions, attend concerts and other performances, participate in symposia and seminars etc.

The main exhibition, “The Greek of Toledo”, will run from 14 March to 14 June. It gathers over a hundred works by El Greco, including dozens of works on loan from the major museums and private collections from all over the world.

The artist

El Greco is possibly the most modern of all the great painters of the 16th and 17th centuries” says Gregorio Marañon, president of the El Greco 2014 Foundation.

Having been trained in the best schools of painting in Rome and Venice, Domenicos Theotocopoulos traveled to Spain in 1577 seeking the favor of King Philip II. When the monarch didn’t offer him a position at court, the artist still remained in Spain and found with Toledo the ideal place to develop his art: A medieval town with cobbled streets known as the “City of the Three Cultures” or “City of Tolerance” for having been influenced by a historical co-existence of Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Villa Nazules

If you haven’t been in Toledo, this might be an exceptional occasion to visit Spain’s former capital. And the best place to stay is, obviously, Villa Nazules. After a day full of cultural impressions, nothing better than enjoying a relaxing massage or bath in the hotel’s spa or a delicious dinner in its restaurant.

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