Presentation of Primate
Toledo, 24 October 2025 – Toledo Cathedral has officially presented “Primate”, one of the major cultural events of the Eighth Centenary marking the start of construction of the Gothic Cathedral (1226–2026). The exhibition, opening on 25 May 2026 and running until 14 October, will feature 350 masterpieces spanning eight centuries of art, faith, and heritage, including works by El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini, and Luca Giordano.
Organized by the Fundación Impulsa Castilla-La Mancha and the Chapter of the Holy Primate Cathedral, the exhibition will occupy over 2,000 square meters of the Cathedral, in spaces such as the Upper and Lower Cloisters, the Queen’s Chapel, the Sala de Gigantones, and the Chapel of San Blas, as well as part of the Trascoro, which will host the second stage of the exhibition.
Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, Francisco Cerro Chaves, emphasized that “Primate” aims to “show the deep connection between faith and art, between pastoral mission and the culture of a people,” highlighting the exhibition’s spiritual significance within the Eighth Centenary commemoration. “Primate” is thus presented as a tribute to faith, history, and beauty that have shaped Toledo Cathedral over eight centuries—a temple “built stone by stone with the faith and hope of generations” and a spiritual and cultural heart for the Church and the world.
A Project with Cultural and Tourist Reach
The exhibition is part of a broad program of activities for the Eighth Centenary, including concerts, publications, conferences, and educational initiatives designed to bring the Cathedral’s history and spirituality to national and international audiences. With this program, the Cathedral establishes itself as one of Castilla-La Mancha’s main cultural and tourist attractions, combining faith with innovation and regional development.
Emiliano García-Page, President of Castilla-La Mancha, stressed the moral obligation to protect and defend heritage, particularly the Cathedral, a unique jewel. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between civil and ecclesiastical institutions to preserve and promote cultural heritage, noting that the Eighth Centenary will also strengthen the region’s identity through its historical and artistic legacy.
In this context, “Primate” will also serve as a prelude to the Jubilee Year (2026–2027), culminating the Centenary celebrations and attracting thousands of visitors and pilgrims to Toledo.
Carlos Velázquez Romo, Mayor of Toledo, underscored the Cathedral’s central role in the city, noting: “The Cathedral is not just any monument—it is the first, the principal one.” He emphasized that its history is intertwined with that of the city and highlighted the impact of the Centenary and its activities in projecting Toledo internationally as a center of cultural and spiritual tourism.
An Artistic Journey Through Eight Centuries of History
Curated by Javier Martínez de Aguirre and Benito Navarrete, the exhibition offers a unique exploration of the Cathedral’s artistic and spiritual history, from its Gothic foundation to the height of the Early Modern period. The 350 pieces, mostly from the Cathedral’s own collections, include paintings, sculptures, goldsmith work, textiles, manuscripts, and liturgical objects, half of which have never been publicly exhibited.
Artists represented include El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Alonso Cano, Juan de Borgoña, Pedro de Mena, Martínez Montañés, Andrea Vaccaro, Carlo Saraceni, and Luca Giordano, among other great masters of European sacred art.
Curator Javier Martínez de Aguirre explained that within the Eighth Centenary, this exhibition offers “an exceptional opportunity to share the extraordinary legacy of Toledo Cathedral,” giving visitors a privileged perspective on the Cathedral and its treasures through a direct dialogue with the finest art of each era, brought to Toledo from all corners of Spain, Europe, and the world.
The exhibition provides a scientific yet profoundly humanistic perspective, supported by a catalogue of over 1,200 pages authored by more than a hundred researchers and specialists from national and international museums and universities. This academic dimension positions “Primate” as a reference point in the Spanish and European exhibition scene.
Benito Navarrete highlighted that the restoration of more than 100 works for this exhibition “has no precedent in Spanish history,” emphasizing that the exhibition allows the Cathedral to be understood as a space of encounter between faith and art, where beauty becomes a universal language of the sacred.
Unique Works From Across Spain and Europe
Over 70% of the works belong to Toledo Cathedral, with the remainder coming from nearly 50 national and international lenders, including: Museo del Prado (Madrid), Uffizi Gallery (Florence), Salzburg Museum, Museo de Santa Cruz (Toledo), Museo del Greco, Museo de Bellas Artes (Bilbao), Patrimonio Nacional, Archivo Histórico Nacional, Monastery of Guadalupe… and several parishes, convents, and private collections.
Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, Dean of the Cathedral and Director of the Fundación Primatialis Sedes Toletana, noted that through its works and narrative, the exhibition demonstrates how Toledo’s primatial status inspired centuries of extraordinary artistic and spiritual patronage, making the Cathedral a model and beacon for all of Christendom, and emphasizing its role as a welcoming space preserving and extending its legacy for future generations.
A Two-Part Narrative
The exhibition is structured in two major historical stages covering eight centuries of art and spirituality: 13th–15th centuries: Showcasing the birth and Gothic splendor of the Cathedral, illustrating how its architecture, sculpture, and liturgical decoration reflected Toledo’s primacy and served as a model for the Spanish Church. 16th–18th centuries: Highlighting the patronage of Toledo’s archbishops and the Cathedral’s international projection as an artistic and spiritual reference for Western Christendom.
The route is conceived as a synthesis of faith, art, and culture, a dialogue between the different periods that shaped this unique space. Over the centuries, architects, sculptors, painters, and goldsmiths have left their mark on Spain’s Primate Cathedral, making it a living testament to how beauty, devoted to the sacred, becomes a permanent expression of Toledo’s soul.
About Primate: A Celebration of Faith and Culture
Title: Primate
Dates: 25 May – 14 October 2026
Location: Toledo Cathedral, Primate of Spain
Works: Approximately 350 pieces (50% never before exhibited)
Curators: Javier Martínez de Aguirre and Benito Navarrete
Organizers: Fundación Impulsa Castilla-La Mancha and Toledo Cathedral Chapter
Collaborators: Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Archdiocese of Toledo, City Council of Toledo
Notable Lenders: Museo del Prado, Uffizi Gallery (Florence), Salzburg Museum, Museo de Santa Cruz, Museo del Greco, Patrimonio Nacional, private collections, and others