February 17-May 10, 2026
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What the city hides: Images of the medieval court of Toledo.
Toledo holds an exceptional wealth of heritage beneath its streets. Thanks to urban archaeology, spaces and objects are being recovered, allowing us to piece together countless stories about its past. "What the City Hides: Images of the Medieval Court of Toledo" presents the discovery made in 2018 during the renovation of a building on Bajada del Pozo Amargo Street, in the Canónigos neighborhood, next to the Cathedral. During archaeological monitoring, a set of 35 polychrome panels with figurative scenes from the medieval period was unearthed. At some point, they were reused as the foundation of a house that was already notable for the quality of its ornamental elements.
Its recovery and restoration have revealed a complex and rich iconographic universe: ladies, knights, kings, weapons, heraldic shields, books, epigraphy, philosophy, and science. Dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, it showcases the imagery of the courtly and intellectual circles of Toledo during the reigns of Alfonso X the Wise, Sancho IV, and Ferdinand IV, maintaining a clear aesthetic connection with the illustrations in the Alfonsine codices.
This exhibition highlights a carefully curated selection of unique pieces, now part of the collections of the Santa Cruz Museum in Toledo, which constitute an excellent example of good practices in the recovery of archaeological heritage.
Wisdom
A series of images presents a fascinating iconographic program with cultural themes, such as the one depicting the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle being breastfed by a female figure symbolizing Sophia, goddess of wisdom. Around them are volumes on physics and other subjects. Books are also present in what appears to be a library, with cabinets housing codices, some open with blank pages, like the one held by a reader, creating a highly symbolic scene.
Astronomy and arithmetic are mentioned in two panels with the same compositional design, set above several archways separated by openwork rosettes in whose interstices the syllables that form the names of these disciplines can be read. A starry sky and a possible astrolabe or azalea sphere illustrate this evocation of the study of the stars.
Epigraphy and heraldry allow us to identify several figures associated with the reigns of Alfonso X and Sancho IV. These include Jofré de Loaysa, historian, diplomat, Archdeacon of Toledo, and royal notary. Also included is Gonzalo Pétrez, also known as Gonzalo García Gudiel, the first Mozarabic cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo from 1280 to 1298. Owner of one of the most important collections of medieval codices of his time, his image is associated with the coat of arms of red and silver bars with an ermine.
The Court
Courtly scenes play a significant role in the iconographic program. Several panels comprise a scene depicting a royal figure, bearded, wearing a crown and purple mantle, holding a glove in his left hand, while his other hand, already gloved, appears to be in a gesture of greeting. In the background, figures dressed in habits and tonsures interact with others in colorful robes and coifs, set against an outdoor landscape featuring walls, arrow slits, and a gate.
Another panel displays two crowned figures, one bearded and the other, more youthful, holding the medallion hanging from his neck. Both are flanked by ladies wearing low headdresses and chin straps, and in some cases, hairnets, all framed by an archway. In another incomplete scene, a royal representation can be discerned, wearing a purple cloak with ermine trim. The courtiers are identified by the same dress code present throughout the rest of the group, wearing gloves and long tunics of various colors.
Finally, this grouping includes a single fragmented image depicting four seated figures. The central figure occupies a distinct seat—possibly a throne or lectern—and of all of them, only their cloaks and footwear are primarily visible.
The War
Practices related to warfare, cavalry, and hunting are also represented in this collection of medieval images. The most complete scene shows several male figures surrounded by horses and dressed for battle: the warriors carry banners, and their mounts are covered with saddlecloths.
Another piece features helmets, axes, and maces, along with several triangular flags or pennants decorated with various symbols, such as six-pointed stars and fleurs-de-lis. The presence of several heraldic shields is particularly significant, including the rampant lion, emblem of the Kingdom of León, and the displayed eagle, emblem of the Duchy of Swabia, the homeland of Queen Beatrice, mother of Alfonso X.
Helmets, chainmail gauntlets, breeches, and shields with their arm guards are clearly visible. Knights with swords and horses are realistically interwoven amidst blood and wounds. These scenes likely all point to the recounting of real events.
Finally, hunting appears in two other panels: the scene depicts several horsemen who come across a robust male deer that stands out for its fur and branched antlers.
Location:
Practical information:
NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM C/ Serrano, 13 28001 Madrid
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. // Sundays and public holidays - 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. // Closed Mondays.
Archaeological News Room, ground floor.
Free admission.
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