Salamanca Tourism

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Salamanca Tourism

Salamanca is an old, compact city, where all the sights are within a short stroll from each other. Fortunately for our students, our Spanish school in Salamanca boasts an unbeatable location. The school, housed in one of Salamanca's historic sandstone buildings, is located right on the Gran Vía and just seconds from all the sights, such as:

Plaza Mayor
Known as Salamanca's "living room", the Plaza Mayor is the city's main meeting point, where strolling locals mix with photo-snapping tourists. It's considered to be Spain's most elegant Plaza Mayor, which is saying a lot, seeing as how practically every town and city has their own. The plaza, built in the Churrigueresque Baroque style, features iron balconies, terrace cafés, arcaded walkways and the stunning façade of Salamanca's Ayuntamiento (City Hall).

Casa de las Conchas
The Casa de las Conchas (House of the Shells) is one of Salamanca's most distinctive buildings, thanks to the endless rows of scallop shells - the symbol of the elite Order of Santiago, to which the original owner belonged - adorning its exterior. Don't pass up the chance to go inside for a look at the beautiful and recently restored courtyard, which features Gothic and Renaissance elements. The Casa de las Conchas now houses Salamanca's public library.

Cathedrals
Salamanca has not one but two incredible cathedrals: the Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral) and the Catedral Vieja (Old Cathedral). The newer of the two was built over two centuries starting in 1512, while the older is a stellar example of Spain's early Christian architecture, with much of it dating back to the 12th century! Hint: pay attention to the decoration surrounding the Catedral Nueva's massive doorways. Why? Every time a sculptor works on a restoration or touch-up, he can add a personal touch as a trace of his work and times. That's why, if you look hard, you'll find an ice cream cone and an astronaut amongst the otherwise centuries-old adornment.

Puente romano
Salamanca's puente romano (Roman bridge) spans 400 meters over the Tormes River. Today it's still intact, proving once again that the Romans certainly knew how to build things to last! As you stand on over 2000 years of history, enjoy the incredible view of the beautiful old city climbing up the hill.

Convents
if there's one thing that Salamanca isn't lacking it's religious architecture. Along with two massive cathedrals and numerous churches, it's also home to beautiful, centuries-old convents. Some date back as far as the 13th century! One of the stand-outs is the Convento de Santa Clara (Convent of Saint Clara). A prize-winning restoration of the convent uncovered painted frescoes that had been white-washed during a cholera epidemic, painted 14th-century Gothic beams hidden by false ceilings and much more!

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