Walk uphill from the small village of Fodele past orange trees and ancient stone cottages and you will come to the Museum of El Greco. Step inside to learn about the life of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco, who is said to have been born here. Admire the reproductions of his distinctive works and find out about his life as an artist in Spain. Enjoy a drink or a small meal in the adjoining café before making your way back for a stroll around the village El Greco called home.
The Museum of El Greco is housed in a small, stone cottage, said to be the house where El Greco was born in 1541. It opened to the public in 1998 and serves a dual purpose as a gallery portraying copies of some of his best-known works and a museum detailing the various aspects of his life.
Enter the quaint stone building to see several reproductions of Theotokopoulos’ work hanging on the walls. The paintings are grouped together by colour. You’ll soon see why the artist was renowned for his bold use of the artist’s palette. Note also his trademark elongated faces in many of the religious paintings. In many respects El Greco was ahead of his time in his techniques it wasn’t until the 20th century that the wider art community really began to appreciate his work.
Step outside and enjoy a drink and a local snack in the small café that adjoins the house. The vivid colours of the stonework, the orange trees and the blooms that surround you no doubt provided El Greco with early inspiration. Don’t miss the bust of the great man himself, which sits proudly outside the entrance of the museum.
The Museum of El Greco is located just over half a mile (1 kilometre) from the centre of Fodele. Several signs from the village point you there. The museum is open daily and there is a small charge for entry.
