Tourist information - Salamanca
A stroll through the streets of Salamanca is the discovery at each turn of monuments steeped in history and wisdom, medieval towers together with plateresque façades, and also Baroque reredoses in Modernist establishments. This is a active, welcoming city, the fruit of its position around the Vía de la Plata as well as its university history.
The axis that runs from the church of San Marcos - the circular plan of which constitutes an original example of the Romanesque style - towards the Roman bridge over the river Tormes, takes in the most emblematic factors of the city.
Calle Zamora leads from St Mark's to the Plaza Mayor, among Salamanca's jewels and one of the most important main squares in Spain. Arcaded in the Churrigueresque Baroque style, one of the main features is the so-called Pabellón Real (royal pavilion), decorated with a bust of Philip V. It includes several medallions, some of them of key figures associated with the history of the city, including Friar Luis de León and Unamuno, and others representing writers and professors of the University of Salamanca. Emerging from among the eighty or so arches around the square, and created in the same style, is the City Hall. Within the old-style bars and restaurants situated right here, visitors may sample the local dishes.
The route to the so-called Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), the Renaissance façade of which is adorned with more than 300 pilgrim shells (the symbol of the order that protected the pilgrims' road to Santiago de Compostela), ingests Rúa Mayor. This street includes significant Renaissance palaces, such as 16th-century palaces of Salina, Orellana and Anaya, although found nearby is the so-called Clerecía or monastery, a Baroque construction that currently houses the Pontifical University.
The University of Salamanca is situated merely a stone's throw away. Created in 1254 by Alphonse X, also known as Alphonse the Learned, it is one of several oldest such institutions in Spain. Construction of the present-day developing commenced during the 15th century in the Gothic style, although the main façade is plateresque. It features a medallion together with the effigy of the Catholic Monarchs along with the coat of arms of the Emperor Charles V. Local tradition dictated that the figure of a frog on a skull be located to ensure academic success. An annexed building houses the so-called Escuelas Menores (Minor Schools).
Located in the same Plaza de Anaya, along with the Anaya palace and also the University, is the New Cathedral. Adjoined to this building, developing a complex of great elegance and balance, is the Old Cathedral. Beginning within the 12th century, the latter building combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. One of the most remarkable external feature is the Torre Del Gallo (Tower of the Cockerel), a Byzantine-inspired gadrooned dome on a double tambour. The cloister leads to the Chapel of Santa Bárbara, where prospective Doctors of Philosophy would retain vigil the night before their final exam: once they passed they would ring the bells, whilst failure meant exit via the Carros door. The ground plan of the Old Cathedral has been changed when the New Cathedral was adjoined. Commissioned by the Catholic Monarch, King Ferdinand, the New Cathedral was created in the late Gothic style with Renaissance ornamentation, whilst the tower was developed by the Churriguera brothers, the main practitioners of the Spanish Baroque style.
Here, en route to the Roman bridge in the river Tormes, the itinerary takes in the Casa Lis. This Modernist structure of iron, ceramics and glass houses the Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, with over 1,600 items of attractive art through the 19th and 20th centuries.
The other side of the river affords among the finest breathtaking landscapes of the city. It really is precisely on this bank of the Tormes that the city's parador can be found. A modern building with all the conveniences of a four-star hotel, it has as outstanding views over this World Heritage city. Its restaurant provides a chance to sample the local cuisine. Having tried the odd dish in the old-style bars and restaurants of the historic quarter now is the time to taste much more elaborate casseroles. Roast suckling pig and young goat can be followed by "hornazos" (a type of pie) and "farinatos" (sausages made out of breadcrumbs, pork fat and spices). The sweetmeats are based on Arabic, Hebrew and convent recipes. Marzipans (with sugar and almond) from the Monastery of Santa María de Dueñas, caramel-coated almonds from Alba de Tormes, and "bollo maimón" (a spongy form of marzipan) a few of those on offer.
Salamanca also provides essential churches and also convents going back to the period when all the professors at the University were monks. Located near the cathedrals is the Plaza del Concilio de Trento, containing two essential religious constructions: the Convent of San Esteban and also the Convent of Las Dueñas. The former features a carved façade, in the fashion of a huge reredos, whilst its interior preserves a reredos by Churriguera and paintings by Claudio Coello. For its part, the Convento de las Dueñas combines vestiges of the Gothic, Mudejar and plasteresque styles, its founder having constructed it on her own palace.
The province of Salamanca can be visited by following interesting itineraries. One of these is the so-called Vía de la Plata ("Silver Route"), a Roman road that linked Seville and Astorga and was later used by the pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela. This itinerary through the province takes in Alba de Tormes, Guijuelo and Béjar. Romanesque-Mudejar churches, drying sheds for ham with Label Guarantee status and medieval buildings are usually, respectively, several of the area's charms.
The Sierra de Francia range also consists of various other not missable sites, like La Alberca, a village with National Historic Heritage position, as well as Miranda del Castañar, an Historic-Artistic Site, as well as natural beauty spots like the Peña de Francia rock and the Las Batuecas valley.
The so-called Campo Charro leads on to Ciudad Rodrigo, amongst the province's most historic places, and to the Sierra de Gata mountain range. At the same time, the river Tormes uncovers the historical towns which have gradually emerged along its banks, such as Almenara de Tormes, Ledesma and San Felices de los Gallegos.
Ljao/jan/1v21