Museums

Location:
Located in the town of Beteta.
Electronic mail:
jornadasmartinezdelmazo@gmail.com
The space dedicated to Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, illustrious painter born in Beteta, pays tribute to one of the great exponents of Spanish Baroque painting. A direct disciple of Diego Velázquez, he married Francisca Velázquez, daughter of the great master, in 1633, which opened the doors of the court of Philip IV. As Velázquez’s son-in-law and pupil, Del Mazo developed a style that shares the refinement in the use of light and spatial depth characteristic of his father-in-law, although he managed to endow his works with an expression of his own, especially in his landscapes and portraits of the nobility.
In his most recognized work, The Family of Philip IV, also called The Painter’s Family, one can appreciate his mastery of composition and his ability to reflect the courtly atmosphere of the 17th century. This painting, reminiscent of Velázquez’s Las Meninas, is housed in the Prado Museum, where other of his most emblematic works are also on display, such as The View of Zaragoza, known for its meticulous architectural detail. Other museums such as the Louvre in Paris, the National Gallery in London and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna also house pieces by Del Mazo, showing his international projection and relevance.
This center, located in the old school building, invites visitors to learn about the life and work of this painter, offering a unique look at his legacy and the importance he had in the development of Baroque painting in Spain. The cultural center is also a lively and dynamic space where culture is actively promoted through workshops, temporary exhibitions, conferences and activities for all audiences.



The Ethnographic Museum of El Tobar, located in the heart of this village in Cuenca, was founded in 1986 thanks to the initiative of an association of the municipality. Its objective is to preserve and make known the traditional utensils and tools used by the inhabitants of the place to work and live.
The museum is located in a building that also houses the old communal oven, a historic space where families baked their bread. In its collection you can find tools used in trades such as resin, wood and shearing, along with objects related to work in the fields, livestock and domestic life. These elements allow us to understand the effort, creativity and self-sufficiency that characterized life in the Serranía de Cuenca.
Visits to the museum can be made by prior reservation at the Beteta Tourist Office, during its opening hours.
Location:
Pedestrian access or by car from the Plaza Mayor de Beteta (1.800 km), take the CUV-9033 towards El Tobar.



