The city of Salamanca is one of the most beautiful places with the most historical and cultural background in Spain. Famous especially for its University, one of the oldest and most important in Europe, Salamanca surprises the visitor with many other virtues in the form of historic buildings.
Its old town is a journey into the past, reaching its highest point of beauty at sunset, with its historic buildings illuminated.
But Salamanca is not only art and history. We are talking about one of the cities with the best nightlife in Spain and its gastronomy makes it a reference point in our country, with Guijuelo ham as its star product.
Standing in the centre of the Plaza Mayor and looking around you is a magical experience.
There is a reason why this beautiful town belongs to the select group of cities declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.
The atmosphere of its historic centre, which seems to come alive at times, driven by the continuous hustle and bustle of locals and visitors, is truly unique. Its restaurants make it one of the best destinations for culinary tourism in Spain and its nightclubs and pubs mean that the city never sleeps. This is not to say that it is not a quiet city. It is. It will depend on the Salamanca you want to experience during your stay.
Salamanca University
The University of Salamanca is one of the main identifying features of the city and has an enormous influence, not only on its history and culture, but also on its way of life. In fact, one of the reasons why Salamanca is one of the best cities in Spain to party is its university character.
The University of Salamanca was the first university in Spain, inaugurated in 1218 following the model of the Italian University of Bologna. From that moment on, it became one of the great academic temples of the entire continent, producing discoveries such as the recognition of the Copernican system or serving as a cradle for talents of the stature of Miguel de Cervantes, Luis de Góngora, Calderón de la Barca, Antonio Nebrija or Miguel de Unamuno.
Both the buildings that make it up and its interior museum are particularly beautiful and interesting. You cannot leave without seeing the famous frog and the astronaut on its Plateresque façade.
During your visit to the University you will have the chance to enter its General Historical Library, one of the most beautiful on the planet, with incunabula, codices, and manuscripts and old wooden shelves full of books from different periods.
The Patio de las Escuelas or the Patio de las Escuelas Menores are two other spaces belonging to the university campus that are absolutely worth a visit.
Plaza Mayor
For many, the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in Spain and one of the most characteristic symbols of the city.
The undisputed queen of the historic centre of Salamanca, the starting point of any guided tour of the city and the true heart of Salamanca.
Its origins date back to the 18th century and its architecture reflects a marked Baroque style. Despite not being a regular quadrilateral, its beauty conveys a sense of harmony that captivates the visitor.
The Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is its nerve centre, frequented by locals and tourists 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Among the buildings that make up the square, the city’s Town Hall and the Royal Pavilion, with its colourful façades full of balconies, stand out.
Inside, it is possible to have a beer or enjoy a good plate of Guijuelo ham on one of the terraces of the various bars that line the streets. But to admire its beauty, we recommend that you take a couple of minutes to observe it in silence from its central part, turning slowly around while listening to the commotion around you.
Old Cathedral and New Cathedral
Yes, you are reading correctly. Salamanca is one of the few cities in the world that has two cathedrals, both of which are particularly beautiful. The most curious thing is that they are right next to each other, forming a unique ensemble.
At this point you are probably wondering why there are two temples. Basically, when the construction of the New Cathedral was ordered, knowing how long it would take to build it, it was decided to keep the Old Cathedral in order to continue to have a place of worship in the city.
Built in the Romanesque style and the newer one in the Gothic style, the two buildings are as spectacular on the inside as they are on the outside. They really form a huge structure as they are attached to each other, and during your visit you will be able to see the inside of both churches.
In the case of the Old Cathedral, you cannot miss its spectacular altarpiece, and in the case of the New Cathedral, its marvellous baroque choir stands out.
During the visit you will also have access to the chapter rooms, the cloister and various rooms of the Episcopal Palace, supported by an audio guide that will reveal secrets about its history and the different artistic styles present in each space.
Ieronimus
Ieronimus is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Salamanca.
It is completely linked to our previous proposal, as it is a tour through the skies above the cathedrals. We are referring to its high areas, terraces, walkways and viewpoints.
This itinerary differs from the typical visit to a cathedral and if during the day it is particularly recommendable, at night, with the cathedrals illuminated, it becomes a truly magical experience.
It is the ideal tour for photography lovers.
You can choose between three different types of visit: Free tour, private tour or the guided night tour, which in our opinion is the most special of all.
Climb the towers of the cathedrals and enjoy an elevated perspective of Salamanca, a privileged spot where the city spreads out before you in a breathtaking panorama. We recommend visiting Ieronimus at sunset, when the sunlight enhances the beauty of the rooftops and towers, offering a memorable view.
Salamanca sky
From the skies of the city’s cathedrals, we move on to another very special sky. The so-called Cielo de Salamanca is a 15th century painting, which you will find inside the Museo Universitario de las Escuelas Menores.
What was once the fresco that adorned the vault of the university library remained hidden for centuries, concealed under a later ceiling. When it was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, it was restored and exhibited in its current location.
This beautiful painting with astrological motifs bears the signature of Fernando Gallego and to enjoy its beauty, we recommend that you try to adapt your eyes to the darkness of the room in which it is located before admiring it.
Casa de las Conchas
Another of the great classics of any tourist visit to Salamanca. The Casa de las Conchas is a small palace whose fame comes mainly from its beautiful facade decorated with around three hundred different shells.
Built in the 15th century during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, it combines Gothic, Italian and Moorish styles.
The reason why its façade is full of shells is because of its founder, Doctor Rodríguez Arias, who was the founding chancellor of the Order of Santiago, whose symbol was the shell.
Its spectacular interior courtyard is one of the highlights of your visit.
Nowadays, this curious and charming palace serves as the headquarters for the Public Library of Salamanca and an Information Office.
Monterrey Palace
As you are beginning to realise, the historic quarter of Salamanca is full of small palaces, from different periods and architectural styles.
One of the most outstanding is the Palace of Monterrey, built in the 16th century and belonging to the House of Alba.
This palace is one of the best examples of Spanish Renaissance civil architecture and one of the greatest examples of Plateresque architecture.
It is the only palace in Salamanca in whose interior you can visit what is a house, which is still in use today.
Although a visit to its interior is particularly recommended due to the abundance of works of art and its distinguished furnishings, the icing on the cake comes when you climb up to the tower to contemplate the panoramic view of the city. Not in vain does it boast one of the best views of the Salamanca skyline.
Huerto de Calixto y Melibea
The Huerto de Calixto y Melibea is another of the essential places to visit in Salamanca.
Inspired by La Celestina, the famous work by Fernando de Rojas, it will make your imagination soar as you relive the mythical love story of the tale while you stroll through its beautiful gardens.
It was the coincidence between the location of the orchard and its high walls, with the gardens of Melibea’s house according to its description in La Celestina, that led it to adopt this name.
Also, just at the entrance, you will find a statue representing the famous Alcahueta from the work.
We are talking about what is surely the most romantic spot in the whole city, with thousands of couples who every year go to the famous well inside, known as the Well of Lovers, to seal their love by closing a padlock.
Casa Lis
Finally, we come across a more modern but equally recommendable visit. The Casa Lis is the Museum of Decorative Arts of Salamanca, located in this beautiful building from the beginning of the 20th century, built in a mixture of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
The most curious and beautiful at the same time is that the house is integrated as if it were part of the old city wall, creating a really striking contrast of styles.
Its façade includes certain details of modernist architecture, which are the only elements of this architectural style present in the city.
Inside, it has no less than 2,500 pieces, including jewellery, art objects, glassware, furniture and even antique toys from the 19th and 20th centuries.
During your visit you can also admire paintings by local artists such as Mateo Hernández or Celso Lagar.
Its name comes from Don Miguel de Lis, who with the help of the architect Joaquín de Vargas, ordered its construction, captivated by the new Art Nouveau trend that was then in full swing in Austria.
San Esteban Convent Church
To discover the origins of this beautiful convent you have to travel back in time to the year 1255, when the Dominican order decided to establish itself in the old parish church of San Esteban, which was located on the same site.
But its current appearance comes from the works that began in 1524, promoted by Juan Álvarez de Toledo, who at that time was bishop of Córdoba.
Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1890, it has two churches currently open for worship: the church of San Esteban and the chapel of Sotomayor.
If its facade is particularly beautiful, with the representation of the martyrdom of San Esteban in its central part, its spectacular interior altarpiece, the work of José de Churriguera, stands out even more.
The Chapel of the Rosary, located right next to the altarpiece of Santo Domingo, is another of its main attractions.
Anaya Palace
Again a palace and once again, the University, in one way or another, is present in our list.
Today, the Anaya Palace is the headquarters of the Faculty of Philology and for many years, it functioned as the Colegio Mayor, offering accommodation to students of limited financial means.
It owes its name to the bishop of Anaya y Maldonado, who founded the building in the 15th century.
In the staircase of its inner courtyard, you will find a bust of the great Miguel de Unamuno, former rector of the University.
The beauty and majesty of its main façade stands out, built in Neoclassical style with four large Ionic columns and a grand staircase.
Clerecía
La Clerecía is located just opposite the Casa de las Conchas and is a church that stands out especially for its impressive dome and its two towers.
Built in the 17th century in the Baroque style, this church has an ornate three-storey cloister that is not to be missed.
During your visit, you can climb its towers to contemplate the city from the top.
It is currently the seat of the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
La Alberca
We finish our particular list of essentials with one of the most beautiful towns to visit near Salamanca, the municipality of La Alberca.
This wonderful town is an almost obligatory stop if you are lucky enough to stay for several days in the city.
Located in the heart of the beautiful Sierra de Francia, this municipality combines history, tradition, gastronomy and the additional peculiarity of having one of the most beautiful Christmas lights in the whole country. So if you go to Salamanca at Christmas, the recommendation to visit it is twofold.
It is the first town in Spain to be declared an Historic-Artistic Site and stands out especially for the beauty of the houses that make it up, with the stripes and other geometric patterns so characteristic of its façades.
Famous for its production of artisan nougats, Iberian sausages and honey, we especially recommend that you visit its Plaza Mayor and the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.
Frequently Asked Questions Salamanca
What places should you not miss in Salamanca?
As you have seen, Salamanca is a city full of tourist attractions and places that you should not miss. Although it is not easy to choose between so much quality and variety, if we had to say which are its essentials, we would choose its beautiful Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral of the city and the University. But our advice is that if you can, visit all the places included in our list of proposals.
Where to eat in Salamanca?
As it usually happens in most cities of Castilla y León, the historic centre of the city is the place to eat in Salamanca and taste its most representative typical dishes. In the case of Salamanca, we also advise you to take the opportunity to buy some Iberian sausage, since you are located in one of the regions with the highest production in our country.
How long should you stay in Salamanca?
Our recommendation is that at least 3 days to discover all the architectural gems that await in the city.
If you can’t devote that much time, a weekend is enough to visit its must-haves. Although it is not a particularly large city, Salamanca has many places to visit and some of them deserve several hours to enjoy them properly.
What is the name of the most beautiful town in Salamanca?
The most beautiful town in Salamanca is La Alberca, located just a few minutes from the city. It is one of the most beautiful and special towns in all of Spain.
Once you have enjoyed all the charms of the city of Salamanca, we strongly recommend that you spend a few hours visiting this place.
What to see in Salamanca with children?
Despite its enormous historical and cultural background, Salamanca is a city that is also especially recommended for visiting with children.
The little ones will have a blast looking for the frog and astronaut on the façade of their university, running around the gardens of the Huerto de Calixto y Melibea or contemplating the Sky paintings of Salamanca. The ideal city to learn while having fun.
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