Museum of El Greco facts for kids

View of the museum entrance.

Bust of El Greco outside the museum.

The Museum of El Greco is a special place in the village of Fodele on the island of Crete. It's west of the big city of Heraklion. This museum is all about a very famous painter named El Greco. His real name was Domenikos Theotokopoulos, and he lived from 1541 to 1614. He grew up in this village.

About the El Greco Museum

The museum is about 1 kilometer (a little over half a mile) from the center of Fodele. It's right across from a small church. Inside, you'll find copies of El Greco's paintings and important papers about his life.

The building where the museum is now used to be very old and falling apart. But starting in 1982, the Greek Ministry of Culture gave money to fix it up. The museum finally opened its doors to visitors in 1998.

Some people believe that El Greco was born right here in Fodele. The museum even says it's his birthplace! However, not everyone agrees on this.

If you want to see some of El Greco's original paintings, you can visit the Historical Museum of Crete in Heraklion. They have two of his actual artworks, and these are the only original El Greco paintings you can find on Crete.

Pictures from the Museum

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  The chapel across from the museum.

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  Christ Carrying the Cross, a painting by El Greco from 1602. A copy of this painting is at the El Greco Museum. The original is in the Prado museum in Madrid.

Want to Learn More?

• El Greco Museum, Toledo, Spain (This is another museum about El Greco, located where he worked later in his life.)