The museum occupies the premises of the former "Regina Coeli" de Dominicos Convent, founded in the late XVI century, at the request of D. Alonso Velarde and licensed from D. Hipolito de la Vela, Archbishop of Burgos.
An exceptional collection of religious images and objects ranging from the evangelization of Cantabria in the XVI century to the present. About 600 works are in galleries devoted to archeology, institutions and religious orders, the Camino de Santiago in Cantabria and the evolution of religious art through different artistic styles, with particular reference to the Gothic period, the popular iconography, the baroque imagery, works by Gregorio Fernández and Martínez Montañes, and the silverware and colonial art, which highlights the impressive collection of Mexican and Peruvian silver and ivory Hispano-Filipino. There is also a section devoted to music.
It has a restoration workshop, which also caters to private requests.
