Discover Salamanca through buildings from different centuries: from the university founded in 1218 and two cathedrals from different eras to modernist architecture and Baroque ensembles. There are also collections, a city gallery with murals, and activities along the Tormes. This lets you tailor your trip to the subjects that interest you most.
University and historical collections
The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218. Its historic buildings and emblematic areas are still in active use and are visited by visitors every day. The Escuelas Mayores building houses the Historical General Library. It contains 2,774 manuscripts, 483 incunabula, and around 62,000 printed volumes from the 16th to the 18th century. The founding year and the collection offer two different perspectives: one places the university in a long history, while the other makes the chronological breadth of its holdings concrete.
Other buildings also offer a chance to compare periods and styles. The cathedral complex consists of the Old Cathedral, dating from the 12th to 13th century, and the New Cathedral, dating from the 16th century. Both belong to one complex but differ markedly in when they were built. The Plaza Mayor, meanwhile, was built in the Baroque style based on a design by Alberto Churriguera.
A variety of styles in individual buildings
Casa de las Conchas combines Gothic architecture with Renaissance and Mudéjar elements. More than 300 shells cover its exterior walls. The combination of several styles and the recurring facade detail make the building a striking example of Salamanca’s architecture. If you want to compare architectural forms, you can see a different design language here than at the Baroque Plaza Mayor.
La Clerecía is a former Jesuit complex with a church and schools. It includes a three-story Baroque cloister. Casa Lis offers a different accent: it was built in 1905 and is considered Salamanca’s first modernist building. The Casa Lis Museum displays 19 collections of decorative art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The city thus brings together different ways of experiencing architecture and art: a former complex with several buildings, a modernist structure, and collections of decorative art.
Towers, murals, and the banks of the Tormes
The “Ieronimus” exhibition lets visitors explore the inside of the towers and access their terraces. Among pinnacles, gargoyles, and battlements, the visit takes you through the history of the towers. This complements the view of facades and building forms with an exploration of the interiors.
The center of a city gallery with more than 250 murals is located in the Plaza del Oeste area. Along the banks of the Tormes, other activities take center stage: there are walking paths, a cycle path, and opportunities for boat trips. When planning your trip, you can choose between architecture and art in the city and outdoor activities and boat trips by the river, without treating them as the same kind of excursion.
Getting to Salamanca
If you’re traveling by car, Salamanca is accessible via the A-62 and A-66 motorways. The A-50 leads from Madrid to Salamanca. Regular bus services with connections make it possible to travel from cities in Spain and Europe. The best option for you therefore also depends on where you’re starting from and whether you’re traveling by car or bus.
Whether you want to devote your stay primarily to the university’s history, buildings from different eras, or a mix of the city and the banks of the Tormes, these topics offer different focuses to guide your choice. When planning, check the connections relevant to your trip and decide which of these interests you want to prioritize.
Discover more destinations: Santiz, Cantagallo, Villanueva Del Conde, Babilafuente, Hinojosa De Duero, Béjar, Aldeaseca de la Armuña, Aldealengua.
Return to the main travel overview: Salamanca.
