Must-see attractions in Salamanca

  • Salamanca, Spain

    Plaza Mayor

    Salamanca

    Built between 1729 and 1755, Salamanca's exceptional grand square is widely considered to be Spain's most beautiful central plaza. It's particularly…

  • Catedral Nueva

    Salamanca

    The tower of this late-Gothic cathedral lords over the city centre, its compelling Churrigueresque (an ornate style of baroque architecture) dome visible…

  • Catedral Vieja

    Salamanca

    The Catedral Nueva's largely Romanesque predecessor, the Catedral Vieja is adorned with an exquisite 15th-century altarpiece, one of the finest outside…

  • Salamanca university

    Universidad Civil

    Salamanca

    Founded initially as the Estudio General in 1218, the university reached the peak of its renown in the 15th and 16th centuries. The visual feast of the…

  • Façade of San Esteban Convent in Salamanca.

    Convento de San Esteban

    Salamanca

    Just down the hill from the cathedral, the lordly Dominican Convento de San Esteban's church has an extraordinary altar-like facade, with the stoning of…

  • Casa Lis at night - Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum - Salamanca, Spain.

    Museo de Art Nouveau y Art Decó

    Salamanca

    Utterly unlike any other Salamanca museum, this stunning collection of sculpture, paintings and art deco and art nouveau pieces inhabits a beautiful,…

  • View from inside the Ieronimus in Salamanca, Spain.

    Ieronimus

    Salamanca

    For fine views over Salamanca, head to the tower at the southwestern corner of the Catedral Nueva's facade. From here, stairs lead up through the tower,…

  • Salamanca. Spain. The courtyard of the Museo de Salamanca (Casa de los Doctores de la Reina).

    Museo de Salamanca

    Salamanca

    Housed in the former residence of Queen Isabel's doctor, this museum is more interesting for the picture of tranquil Salamanca residential life in its…

  • Casa de las Conchas

    Salamanca

    One of the city's most endearing buildings, Casa de las Conchas is named after the 300 scallop shells clinging to its facade. The house's original owner,…

  • Iglesia de San Martín

    Salamanca

    Romanesque Iglesia de San Martín is wedged among houses, but is a pretty encore to the adjacent Plaza Mayor. The south portal in particular is worth…

  • Convento y Museo de las Úrsulas

    Salamanca

    A late-Gothic nunnery founded by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca in 1512, the religious museum here is fairly modest, with some interesting paintings by Juan…

  • Convento de Santa Clara

    Salamanca

    This much-modified convent started life as a Romanesque structure and now houses a small museum. You can admire the beautiful frescos and climb up some…

  • Real Clerecía de San Marcos

    Salamanca

    Visits to this colossal baroque church and the attached Catholic university are via obligatory guided tours (in Spanish), which run every 45 minutes. You…

  • Cielo de Salamanca

    Salamanca

    The main (and only) attraction here is the beautiful pale-blue ceiling fresco of the zodiac, which was painted in the 15th century and uncovered during…

  • Palacio de Monterrey

    Salamanca

    From the southwestern corner of Plaza Mayor, Calle del Prior leads to the Palacio de Monterrey, a 16th-century royal holiday home and a seminal piece of…

  • Museo Taurino

    Salamanca

    Salamanca lies in one of Spain's bullfighting heartlands: this small museum is packed with bullfighting memorabilia. It was closed for renovations at the…

  • Convento de las Dueñas

    Salamanca

    This Dominican convent is home to the city's most beautiful cloister, with some decidedly ghoulish carvings on the capitals.

  • Torre del Clavero

    Salamanca

    This 15th-century octagonal fortress has an unusual square base and smaller cylindrical towers.