MuseumMuseum of Sacred Art of LeonLeón

The Gallery and Museum of Sacred Art of the City of Leon is located inside the Cathedral Basilica of our Most Holy Lady of Light, across from the Consistorial Room.

In it, you can see priceless cultural, religious, and artistic heritage pieces found in 1999 by Father Don Rafael Garcia Gonzalez, Bishop of the Diocese of León, in one of the rooms of the church annexes.

This lucky discovery sheds light on around 400 pieces of artwork and furniture accumulated by the Diocese of León since the 18th century.  The direction of the promotion and restoration was entrusted to Father Fidel Hernández Lara, current director of the gallery. The restoration of many of the paintings on display was carried out in the workshops of the Guanajuato Civil Association Heritage Site.

The first room of this museum was inaugurated on May 3, 2001 by Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago. Today, this space has 15 rooms along which the visitor can appreciate anonymous paintings and others signed by artists from Leon such as Antonio Segoviano, Juan Nepomuceno Herrera, Francisco Zerrato and sculptor Carlos Terres.

Also featured are books, some incunabula, a sample of Sacra goldsmith (chalices, vases, lamps, and sacred vessels), banners, tapestries of the late 19th century, priestly garments (chasubles and stoles), and furniture.

Among the most impressive works in the gallery, are the following: an oil painting depicting the Virgin Mary called the Holder of the Holy Cathedral and Patroness of the Archdiocese of León, a splendid English Via Crucis of the 19th century, an Ecce Homo of the 19th century, and a beautiful mesquite wood carving of the 17th century depicting a crucified Jesus.

Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. and from 4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m.

Saturday from 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m. Sunday from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Closed on Mondays. Admission: $ 15.00 pesos.