Salamanca is chosen by many people from Madrid for the day, and if that is what you have, make the most of it. I recommend staying at least one night because enjoying its illuminated monuments will be worth it.
Indice:
Plaza Mayor of Salamanca
We will start in what is perhaps the greatest attraction, its Plaza Mayor.
As soon as you enter the old town of Salamanca it seems that you have been transported back in time. I advise you to stay in this part of the city and thus be able to continue living this magic both day and night.
Taking a free tour in Salamanca is always a good idea
This Plaza Mayor was built between 1729 and 1756, in baroque style . And I assure you that any image we can show you does not do it justice, when you enter it takes away your speech. It is one of the most beautiful squares we have seen.
Miguel de Unamuno defined it perfectly: “It is an irregular quadrilateral, but amazingly harmonious.” And when you are there, you couldn’t agree more.
A nerve centre that brings together students, tourists and locals, no one can fail to pass through the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca.
Visit it during the day but come back at night, I promise it’s worth it.
We will now cross to the Central Market.
Central Market
The Central Market of Salamanca is the oldest food market in the city. Located next to the Plaza Mayor it is a beautiful place to visit.
Restored in 2001, it was inaugurated at the beginning of the twentieth century in 1909.
We really like markets, so the visit was worth it.
Walking through the streets of Salamanca is a real pleasure, as we said, it is like being transported back in time. It has the magic of that special colour, of the details of the facades that are impressive, the sculptures, the red inscriptions that we see on the walls, the cheers.
The vitor (equivalent to ¡viva!), is a symbol derived from the crismon of theLower Roman Empire. It was adopted by some Spanish universities especially that of Salamanca.
This typeface has been paying homage to doctors from the University or personalities trained there since the fifteenth century. A tradition that is still maintained.
These steps, while we look at beautiful buildings, take us to the already named University of Salamanca.
University of Salamanca
Its foundation dates back to 1218
The University can be visited, we have done so on another occasion but not this time, the entrance costs €10.
It is worth going inside, but just getting there will make you spend a lot of time looking at the façade, which is wonderful. You will see several people also looking up in search of a skull with a frog on top.
Legend has it that the student who goes to study in the city and finds the frog will pass his exams.
We continue the walk and arrive at the Casa de las Conchas
If you are planning to visit Madrid, I invite you to read: What to see in Madrid in 3 days
Casa de las Conchas
Its construction began in 1493 and was completed in 1517. The building was commissioned by Rodrigo Maldonado de Talavera, knight of the Order of Santiago, professor of Law at the University, of which he was rector.
Although the striking thing is its exterior walls, it is worth entering, inside the courtyard with its arches and staircase stand out. . Admission is free.
Taking a complete tour of Salamanca can also be an option
Right in front of it we find….
The Clergy
La Clerecía is the name given to the building of the former Royal College of the Holy Spirit of the Compañía de Jesús. It is baroque in style. The name of Clerecía is due to an abbreviated denomination of its belonging to the Real Clerecía de San Marcos after the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain. Founded in 1617, it is today the seat of the Pontifical University.
The entrance is worth it and even more so the climb to its towers. Scala Coeli is the name that takes the experience of going up to get magnificent views of the city of Salamanca.
The ticket price is €6
Now we are going to visit another of the emblematic and most beautiful places of the city, its Cathedral.
Cathedral of Salamanca
When we talk about the Cathedral of Salamanca we are talking about a cathedral complex, the New Cathedral of the sixteenth century and the Old Cathedral of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. We can distinguish the Old Cathedral from the outside by the Rooster tower.
The entrance fee is €10 and includes a visit to both, and they are connected from the inside.
It is well worth the visit, the altarpiece of the new Cathedral is impressive, and the whole construction is magnificent, a beauty worth seeing.
After this visit I invite you to continue walking together towards the Tormes River.
Roman Bridge
We approach the Roman Bridge. One of the oldest buildings in Salamanca, it dates back to the 1st century, although the way we see it now is the result of reconstructions.
Located right at the entrance to the bridge is the famous Verraco de Salamanca, the oldest stone statue in the entire city is of Celtic origin.
From the bridge we get some of the most beautiful images of the city. Don’t miss coming at night too, the views towards the cathedral are beautiful.
On one side of the bridge we find a sculpture of Lazarillo de Tormes.
Automobile Museum
What I am going to tell you now is not a must-see, but if you like cars, the Museum of Automotive History in Salamanca is a nice visit. We visited it a few years ago, but this time we did not go in. The entrance costs €5.
Art Deco and Art Nuveau Casa Lis Museum
Just opposite we find a building that is worth visiting from the outside at least, although I can tell you in advance that the interior is also wonderful. The Lis house, the Art Deco and Art Nouveau Museum.
La Casa Lis is an urban mansion located on the old city wall built by D. Miguel de Lis between 1855 and 1909. Its north facade is one of the few examples of modernist architecture that can be found in Salamanca. Currently the building is the headquarters of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum. The entrance fee is 5€.
There are few images that we can leave of the interior since unfortunately they do not allow you to take them.
Very close to Casa Lis we find the
National Historical Archive of the Civil War,
If you like history, if as in our case you are not Spanish and want to learn more about what the Civil War was, it is a visit to do. Admission is free.
We will continue this tour through the
Calixto and Melibea Garden
Located on the slope of the ancient wall of Salamanca at the foot of the Tormes River. It is a park that can be visitedromantic characterized by the love story of the characters in love in the work of Fernando de Rojas: Calixto and Melibea. It was inaugurated on June 12, 1981.
Convent of San Esteban
A few steps away we find another beautiful construction. the Convent of San Esteban.
The Dominicans settled in Salamanca between 1255 and 1256. On the current site of the convent, they built the primitive convent that was later destroyed to build the current one in 1524.
The ticket price is €4.50
This is just the essentials to see in the city, but they have more to see such as the Salinas Palace, or the Cave of Salamanca.
Practical Information for visiting Salamanca
Before going to the accommodation we tell you that we have unlimited internet with Holafly esim, so as not to extend the explanation I leave you a special post as well as a discount coupon. Holafly Coupon: EUROPAACOMPANADA5
We always travel with travel insurance for any eventuality, we use IATI and in the description we leave a link from which you get a discount.
Staying in the old town is what I recommend to experience the magic of this city both day and night.
We chose the Salamancas Suite Studios on this occasion. We really liked the location and also the room. It has parking next door if you travel with the car.
Breakfast is simple, but the hotel is very nice and well located a few steps from the Plaza Mayor.
How to get there?, Although we went by car you can do it from Madrid by train or bus.
Salamanca is about 220 kilometres from Madrid. The fast train will take you about an hour and 45 minutes, or three hours on the regular train. Costs range from €25 to €40 per journey. However, this varies depending on the dates and times. Search with my dates on Renfe
By bus it will take you about two and a half hours around 17 euros
I advise you to stay in the city but if the idea is to go for the day, they have excursions from Madrid that make Salamanca and Ávila for about 90 euros approximately.
Map and video of Salamanca
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links
