Page 366 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

364  CENTR AL SP AIN

Exploring Salamanca P Plaza Mayor
The majority of Salamanca’s This magnificent square was
monuments are located inside built by Felipe V to thank the city
the city centre, which is com­ for its support during the War of
pact enough to explore on the Spanish Succession (see p66).
foot. The university, the Plaza Designed by the Churriguera
Mayor, and the old and new brothers (see p29) in 1729 and
cathedrals are all unmissable. completed in 1755, it was once
used for bullfights, but nowadays
R Catedral Vieja and is a delightful place to stroll or
Catedral Nueva shop. Within the harmonious
Tel 923 28 11 23. Open 10am–8pm blend of arcad ed buildings and
daily (Oct–Mar: to 6pm). cafés are the Baroque town hall
∑ catedralsalamanca.org and, oppo site, the Royal Pavilion,
The new cathedral (built during from where the royal family used
the 16th–18th centuries) did to watch events in the square.
not replace the old, but was The Plaza Mayor is built of warm
built beside it. It combines a mix Façade of Salamanca University, on the golden sandstone, and is
of styles, being mainly Gothic, Patio de las Escuelas especially resplendent at dusk.
with Renais sance and Baroque
additions. The west front has P Universidad
elaborate Late Gothic stonework. Calle Libreros. Tel 923 29 44 00.
The 12th­ to 13th­century Open daily. Closed 1 & 6 Jan,
Romanesque old cathedral is 25 Dec and for official functions.
entered through the new one. & ∑ usal.es
The highlight is a 53­panel altar­ The university was founded
piece, painted in lustrous colours by Alfonso IX of León in 1218,
by Nicolás Florentino. It frames making it the oldest in Spain.
a statue of Salamanca’s patron The 16th­century façade of the
saint, the 12th­century Virgen Patio de las Escuelas (Schools
de la Vega, crafted in Limoges Square) is a perfect example of
enamel. In the vault above is a the Plateresque style (see p29).
fresco depicting scenes from the Opposite is a statue of Fray Luis
Last Judgment, also by Florentino. de León, who taught theology Royal Pavilion in Salamanca’s beautiful
The 15th­century Capilla de here. His former lecture room Plaza Mayor
Anaya (Anaya Chapel) contains is preserved in its original style.
the superb 15th­century alabas­ The Escuelas Menores building R Iglesia-Convento de
ter tomb of Diego de Anaya, an houses a huge zodiac fresco, San Esteban
archbishop of Salamanca. The Salamanca Sky. Plaza del Concilio de Trento s/n.
Tel 923 21 50 00. Open 10am–2pm,
4–6pm daily. Closed public hols. &
The 16th­century church of this
Dominican monastery has an
ornamented façade. The relief
on the central panel, complet ed
by Juan Antonio Ceroni in 1610,
depicts the stoning of St Stephen,
to whom the monas tery is dedi­
cated. Above is a frieze with
figures of children and horses.
The interior is equally
stunning. The ornate altarpiece,
of twisted gilt columns deco­
rated with vines, is the work
of José Churriguera and dates
from 1693. Below it is one of
Claudio Coello’s last paintings,
another representation of the
martyrdom of St Stephen.
The double­galleried Claustro
de los Reyes, completed in
Plateresque style in 1591, has
capitals that are carved with
Salamanca’s double cathedral, towering over the city the heads of the prophets.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–70 and pp594–5

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