There are endless reasons to visit Salamanca: in addition to being one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, it is an unbeatable example of the Golden Age architecture and a city with a university environment like few others. But here, in addition, you eat great (something very important!), You can easily walk on foot and it is a perfect day trip from the capital. Ready to point on the map all things to see and do in Salamanca? Here are the best 20:
1. The nerve center and beating heart of Salamanca is its Main Square, a huge square porticoed square (although in reality its 4 sides have different lengths), which reminds a lot of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. And as in that one, in Salamanca, there will be no lack of atmosphere: there is always someone taking a drink on their terraces or ice cream in the famous ice cream Novelty. In addition, every December 31st, New Year's Eve of the students is celebrated here, in which friends and classmates gather to celebrate together the arrival of the new year.
2. If from there you cross the Corrillo Arch you will enter a much smaller but very charming square: Square of the Corrillo. If you look at the columns on its porticoed side you will see reliefs that represent Roman gods each symbolizing one day of the week. But that's not all, near the arch there is an inscription of a phrase from Cervantes that reads:
Notice, my daughter, that you are in Salamanca, who is called worldwide mother of sciences, archives of skills, treasurer of good ingenuities and who ordinarily study in it and live ten or twelve thousand students, young people, craving, thrown, free, amateur, spending, discreet, devilish and humorous
3. In Salamanca there are two cathedrals, the New (the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin) and the Old woman And obviously you have to visit both. The first is the current headquarters of the diocese of the city and was built in a mixed architectural style (especially Baroque and Gothic). The Old Cathedral is Romanesque and Gothic and was one of the first cathedrals in the area (dating from the fourteenth century).
4. And when you're facing the north facade of the New Cathedral, sharpen your eyes well. If you pay attention you can see some very peculiar architectural element: like the famous Salamanca astronaut, a devil who is eating an ice cream or a crayfish (among others).
The reason? These types of additions are licenses that the stonecutters themselves take to leave their personal stamp on the restorations. It's a curious thing, but that doesn't distract you from the really important thing: the beautiful facade of the cathedral!
5. The sculptural surprises do not end here: one of the symbols of Salamanca (and possibly the most purchased souvenir by tourists) is the skull with a frog which is located on the facade of the college. Tradition tells that students who find it will be lucky with exams. It is certainly something curious to see in Salamanca, don't you think?
By the way, we recommend you enter the University of Salamanca and give you a loop through the classrooms, the cloister and the library, which is not in vain, has more than 800 years of history!
Cloister of the University of Salamanca
6. In another university, in the Pontifical University of SalamancaA plan awaits you that you cannot resist. We talked about climbing atTowers of the Clergy by Scala Coeli, to have an impressive bird's-eye view of the city's historic center. Admission is € 3.75, free on Tuesdays from 10 to 12 (except holidays, Easter, July and August), more information.
7. Another beautiful building is known as the House of Shells, where did you guess! You can admire more than 300 stone shells protruding from their facades. Around this house there are many legends that respond to the reason for the existence of these shells, some related to the way of Santiago, others with the belonging to the order of Santiago of their owner, Don Rodrigo Arias Maldonado, and the one that says that Under one of those shells there is a wonderful treasure. Anyway, mogollón is cool!
Although the most curious fact of this building is not necessary to look for it centuries ago, but to the year 2005, and to the news that announces that “La Casa de las Conchas passes to Patrimonio after a swap with the Andalusian Junta”. The fact is that the building belonged to the Junta de Andalucía after being delivered by its last owners (with residence in Seville) as payment of taxes on an inheritance that entered this building. In 2005 the Junta de Andalucía changed it to the state for the property of the Bank of Spain in Granada (touch the balls, María Manuela).
8. If you are ours and enjoy urban art and the routes of street art, you have to shop around the Western Quarter. A few years ago an initiative was launched to give an artistic impulse to this area of Salamanca and turn some of its gray corners into true outdoor works of art. The project continues with the effort of local associations and city council grants to promote young artists, and we love it!
9. Come to know the “Salamanca sky”, A painting by Fernando Gallego that decorated the vault of the old library of the University of Salamanca. Today it is preserved in the University Museum. It is a delicate but well preserved work, which represents a set of constellations. Your visit is free.
10. One of the best things to do in Salamanca is to cross your BridgeRoman of stone and admire the silhouette of the city from the other side of the river. At sunset it is a spectacle (and more if you share it with someone special and with a beer hehe). There is another bridge, that of Enrique Estevan, which although much more modern, also has its roll, especially at night when it lights up!
Enrique Estevan and Salamanca bridge at night
11. The Toro Street It is one of the liveliest in the city, and when we visited it, a shop attracted a lot of attention ... that of Zara and no, there was no crazy discount, it was that it was inside a convent!
12. Although the best area to go out (and tapas!) Is the Van Dyck Street, the favorite street of the students of Salamanca. Good sites are the Chinitas coffee (try the cod), the Rufo's (the montaditos are huge), the Stall (ains, those rich potatoes!), or The Minutejo (synonymous with pintxo moruno).
13. Another famous street, this time for its beauty, is the Tentenecio Street that joins the Tormes River and the side facade of the Old Cathedral. Of course ... be prepared because its slope is quite steep!
14. The Orchard of Calixto and Melibea It was one of the big surprises of our trip to Salamanca. This urban garden is one of the most romantic places in the city, so if you travel as a couple, don't miss it! In case you do not know (or do not even remember ...), Calisto and Melibea were the protagonists of the love story told in the famous book by Fernando de Rojas "La Celestina". And, it is said, it was in these gardens where the plot takes place. Entrance is free.
15. The Convent of San Esteban It deserves an hour of your time, as it is one of the most beautiful buildings with Plateresque and Baroque decoration in the entire region. Among its many rooms there is one that at first glance does not attract attention, but that was the place where Cristobal Colón met with the prior of the convent and confessor of Queen Isabel the Catholic, so that he would throw a cable and convince her to finance your expedition
Oh, and you can't leave without visiting the Terrace on its facade, with beautiful views. The entrance to the convent costs € 4, free access to the terrace on Sundays at 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30. You can see the schedules of the visits here.
Convent of San Esteban, Salamanca
16. After a day of kicking nothing better than refueling with a hornazo, one of the typical dishes of Salamanca, and the richest (and caloric). It is essentially a bread similar to a pie stuffed with ham, sausage, loin and cooked egg. Yes: it's a boooomba!
17. The Anaya Square It is another of the points you have to visit in Salamanca. Here you will find emblematic buildings such as the Anaya Palace (which gives its name to the square) or the Parroquia de San Sebastián.
18. Do you know that a few meters from the Cathedral there is a cave where they say that the devil himself was teaching hidden arts? Your name? The Devil's Cave. The legend, like the rest of Salamanca's cartoons, dates back a few centuries ago. And Salamanca was once considered an important center of necromancy, black magic, sorcerers and sorcerers. Entrance is free.
19. If time does not accompany your visit to Salamanca, a good option is to “lock yourself up” in the Lis House, a beautiful building that houses the Art Nouveau Museum Art Deco. There is also a cafeteria with spectacular stained glass windows where you can have a coffee with milk or a warm tea. It costs € 4.
20. Finally, approach until the Clavero Tower, a beautiful octagonal tower of defensive character, and sit within an episode of Game of Thrones. Or in the middle ages. What you prefer 😉
House of Shells and Towers of the Clergy of Salamanca
That said: if you want to know a city full of possibilities, organize a getaway to this corner of Castilla y León: you will not regret it. Have we left others things to see and do in Salamanca?
* Photocredit: Shutterstock
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