The church was originally a mosque that was converted into a Christian parish following the Reconquista of Toledo in 1085.
El Greco's painting is still displayed in the exact position for which it was originally commissioned over four centuries ago.
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz captures the legend where Saints Stephen and Augustine descended from heaven to bury Don Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo.
The painting includes a self-portrait of El Greco, identified as the man looking directly at the viewer among the mourners.
The bell tower is a quintessential example of the Toledo Mudejar style, utilizing brickwork patterns typical of the 14th century.
The church was significantly remodeled in the 14th century to serve as the funerary chapel for the noble Orgaz family.
The painting depicts contemporary 16th-century Toledo nobility alongside historical religious figures.
The Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Toledo is primarily recognized for housing El Greco's masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Constructed on the site of an earlier mosque, the church features a distinct Mudejar-style bell tower with a triple-arched window. The interior layout remains relatively simple, designed specifically to showcase the large-scale painting commissioned in 1586. The church stands as a testament to the coexistence of Islamic and Christian artistic traditions within the historic center of Toledo. Its current form reflects a significant 14th-century renovation ordered by the Count of Orgaz. The structure is one of the most visited cultural sites in the city due to the singular importance of the El Greco work.
From the exterior looking up at the Mudejar bell tower from the Plazuela de Santo Tomé.
Buy your ticket online in advance to skip the line during peak tourist seasons.
Visit during the shoulder hours to avoid large tour groups gathered around the main painting.
Check the official website for combined ticket options if you plan to visit multiple monuments in Toledo.
Do not attempt to visit during midday peak hours in the summer, as it becomes crowded and stiflingly hot inside.
Maintain a quiet tone, avoid using flash photography, and ensure shoulders and knees are covered out of respect for a functioning religious space.
