Sightseeing in Salamanca - what to see. Complete travel guide

This is the largest cultural center of Spain, a famous university region and simply a beautiful old town. Your rest in Salamanca will be pleasant and interesting. The choice of attractions in Salamanca is so wide that even mentioning them all is an uneasy task.

The house decorated with shells is surely one of the most unusual architectural places of interest. This beautiful mansion was built in 1514, and its facade is decorated with hundreds of real shell valves. Diocesan Museum is widely known as the oldest cultural institution of the city. Here you will find a collection of paintings and statues, the most valuable of which is the figure of the Virgin Mary made of ivory. It is also worth noting the ancient cathedral Catedral Vieja, the building of which took place in 12 - 13 centuries. The building is created in best traditions of the Romanesque style.

Another marvelous creation of the medieval architects is Catedral Vieja, which facade is decorated with elegant carvings. The altar of the church, which is adjacent to the architectural complex, will be particularly interesting to visitors. The altar is decorated with delicate hand-painted gilding. The altar is the creation of the famous sculptor Jose de Churriguera and his best pupils. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Mayor Square located in the city center is the best place for walking. The square often becomes the location of ceremonies and mass events. It is always very crowded; travellers are photographing in front of beautiful homes, and local residents relax, sipping coffee leisurely in outdoor restaurants. The Provincial Museum of Fine Arts is the most visited cultural institution. The nine halls of the museum feature works by famous Spanish painters of 16 - 20 centuries.

A unique University of Salamanca is situated in the historic area. It is an important historical monument. The university was founded in 1218 and is officially considered to be the oldest institution in Spain. Until now, it is an important educational center of Europe. The building, which guests of the city can see today, was constructed in the 14th century. Its facade is artfully designed.

Not far from the university, is a charming Patio de las Esquelas formed by the most beautiful buildings in Baroque and Renaissance style. Each building has its own unique features. Some of them are characterized by spectacular exterior design, others have preserved exclusive interior work. A historical museum occupies one of the buildings nowadays. Admirers of contemporary art will be interested in visiting Artium Domus Museum, whose opening took place in 2002. The location of the museum was an ancient building, that used to be a prison. After a lengthy renovation, they placed an invaluable collection of works of art in the former cells for prisoners. A collection of paintings in avant-garde style is of particular interest. This museum is available for free.

The ancient monastery of San Esteban was kept till now. Its construction began in 1524 and lasted almost a hundred years. Nowadays, the building of the monastery represents a huge architectural value. Its facade is decorated with a masterful carving. In the monastery church, it was possible to preserve the most beautiful altar of the beginning of the 17th century.

A vivid architectural monument in the late Roman style is the church of San Martin. It was built in the 12th century. Despite numerous changes and reconstructions, some elements of the church have remained in a pristine way. On the north side of the building, you can see a beautiful bas-relief with the image of St. Martin. It has not changed externally for more than 700 years.

The Church of the Holy Spirit is a historical monument of a later period. Its construction took place in the 16th century. Miniature carved pinnacles are an important distinctive feature of the building. They frame the church building around the perimeter. The interior design is also incredibly interesting. It retains the main altar, created in 1659.