11 Spectacular Sights to See in Salamanca, Spain

One of the things I love about Spain is how it overflows with spectacular destinations.

It’s one country you could keep going back to, constantly finding new cities and places to visit. And while the endless coastline has a wealth of awesome cities like San Sebastian and Barcelona, so too does Spain’s interior.

Case in point, the celebrated city of Salamanca, west of Madrid near the Portuguese border. Even though I didn’t know it at first, there were plenty of sights to see in Salamanca, Spain.

To my delight, Salamanca is a historic city whose renowned university and exquisite architecture have created an everlasting appeal. Even visiting in winter did little to curb my enthusiasm to explore the deceptively compact historic city centre.

To give you an idea of what’s in store when visiting, here are some things to do in Salamanca when sightseeing.

How to get to Salamanca

When it comes to getting to Salamanca, options will depend on where you’re coming from.

Madrid (or Valladolid) is essentially the nearest major city and you have the choice of taking the train or going by bus in the case of Madrid. Working out which is the better option for you may come down to budget and comfort.

For me, the train ride from Bilbao was pretty comfortable as Spain has a quality train network in my opinion. Alternatively, renting a car in Spain may be an idea worth considering, as it could work out cheaper and let you enjoy a greater sense of freedom on your trip.

Where to stay in Salamanca

Salamanca may be a moderately large city, but as a tourist, you’re only going to be interested in the historical centre and downtown.

So it’s these two areas of Salamanca where you want to stay, or at least stay a short walk from them as I did. And you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a decent range of accommodation in Salamanca too.

What’s great is that you can find both budget accommodation and luxury places to stay in the city centre. Particularly in the off-season, you should find places to stay in Salamanca that offer great value for money.

Some of the best-rated hotels include:

• Hospes Palacio de San Esteban
• NH Collection Salamanca Palacio de Castellanos
• Salamanca Suite Studios

Places to Visit in Salamanca

Visiting Salamanca is all about the city’s history and culture. So, don’t be surprised if the following attractions in Salamanca focus heavily on those themes.

1. Plaza Mayor

There’s simply no other place to start a visit to Salamanca. Plaza Mayor is the grand main attraction of the Salamanca city centre, with the square fully surrounded by a quintessentially Spanish box of arcades.

This popular public square is lined with all sorts of shops and restaurants and even in winter, you’ll find outdoor tables and chairs spilling out of cafes onto the square. The Baroque architecture of the surrounding buildings is a lot to take in, from the detailed stonework and antique shutters to the plaques, statues and medallions bearing faces. Plaza Mayor is also the home to both a clock tower and city hall, although they almost blend into the rest of the square’s buildings.

You could make the argument that this is one of Spain’s most impressive squares and it’d be hard to say no.

2. Clerecia Church Towers

Although I’m sure this landmark would normally be found lower on most lists of Salamanca attractions, you know how I like a good view.

And when you’re after views of Salamanca and the city’s rooftops, there’s no better spot than from the towers of the Clerecia Church. Known as the Scala Coeli or “stairway to heaven” in Latin, a visit here involves a climb up the church tower to admire some awesome views. What’s great is that there is a transept balcony between the two towers, allowing for plenty of vantage points.

Salamanca takes on a whole new dimension from this point of view.

3. University of Salamanca

Despite the city’s many attractions, its greatest claim to fame is without question the University of Salamanca.

After all, it was founded in 1134 and is the third oldest operating university in the world. The campus of the university takes up a considerable portion of the Old Town, from the core buildings around Patio de Escuelas to buildings like the Anaya Palace above. I didn’t quite realise how extensive the campus was so I think I missed a few parts of it.

The other noticeable hallmark of the city’s university is the occasional historic graffiti you see displayed on the sides of some buildings. This graffiti is part of a traditional practice, as it bears the names of graduating students written in bull’s blood in celebration of their accomplishments.

I remember seeing something similar in Seville where the concept was first explained to me.

4. Old and New Cathedrals

Did you know that in Salamanca you get two cathedrals for the price of one?

It turns out that the Salamanca Cathedral is a combination of the city’s Old Cathedral and New Cathedral. Despite being adjoined, these two places of worship are treated as separate cathedrals. Both took centuries to build; the Old Cathedral was completed in the 14th century, while the New Cathedral was completed in 1733.

Owing to the centuries between their construction, each has been designed in a different style – the older has Romanesque architecture, the newer has Baroque architecture, with both having Gothic elements.

While you need to pay to see inside the cathedrals, there’s a lot to freely appreciate from the outside.

5. Old Town streets

Look at a map of Salamanca and the city’s historic centre doesn’t seem particularly large.

And yet, within its compact boundaries, the city packs an awful lot. Peering down some of its major streets, they appear to go on forever and you wonder how that’s even possible among this maze of stone. Throw in bustling crowds of locals here and there and the atmosphere of the city is both lively and intimate.

One thing that felt curious to me is how well-cared for and modern the Old Town appeared. Many of the central streets have been repaved recently, making them look slick and modern.

Then there are the homes and buildings in the centre that often look freshly renovated. I often find it hard to grasp the idea of a rehabilitated old town as wear-and-tear is such a good marker of what’s come before.

Not that I didn’t like Salamanca’s Old Town, just that I found its state unusual.

6. Casa de las Conchas

One of the Salamanca’s most well-known landmarks is the Casa de las Conchas.

Dating from the early 16th century, this historic building is known for its pattern of sea shells that dot across its facade. Also featuring elegant stonework, it’s meant to be one of the city’s most ornate. Unfortunately, the Casa de las Conchas was mostly covered in scaffolding during my visit due to restoration work.

From what I’ve read, the building is back to normal now though.

7. Gorgeous architecture

The thing is though, you can find fantastic buildings all through Salamanca city centre and old town.

The way that the traditional architecture has been preserved is quite something, as at times the centre of the city feels quite modern. It’s as if modern streets pass between historic buildings.

What’s more, it’s incredible how different the buildings can all look, given that they’re all built from the same pale yellow sandstone. To say that Salamanca is a city built from stone feels quite appropriate really. As for the buildings themselves, the old town of Salamanca is home to countless palaces.

While several are incorporated into Salamanca University, there are also ones like Palacio Monterrey and Arias Corvelle Palace seen below. Arias Corvelle Palace is particularly noteworthy for its sgraffito design which I didn’t spot anywhere else in the city.

Most of Salamanca is traditionally made up of Gothic and Baroque architecture that certainly leaves an impression.

8. Convento de San Esteban

At this point, it should become clear that among the palaces and university buildings of Salamanca, there are plenty of religious sites too.

I’d wager that the Convento de San Esteban is one of its more imposing and impressive. A Dominican monastery, this building replaced an earlier convent and was completed in the early 17th century.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the monastery is the incredibly ornate facade that is said to be a perfect example of Plateresque design. Plateresque is a type of Renaissance architecture and something that Salamanca is particularly well-known for in those circles.

With several cloisters and its church, there’s quite a bit to see for the cost of admission.

9. Gardens of Huerto de Calixto y Melibea

One place I only found by accident was the gardens of Huerto de Calixto y Melibea.

Sitting atop ancient city walls, this small, secluded garden was bursting with colour and life. Plus, it offers some great views across the city despite its modest elevation.

While there were a few other tourists there, it’s hard to tell whether this garden is a hidden gem or not. That may come down to the fact that its single entrance, a stone gateway down a dead-end street, makes it look like private property.

Still, Huerto de Calixto y Melibea is one of the unmissable sights to see in Salamanca.

10. Roman Bridge

So far I’ve neglected to mention that Salamanca sits along the Tormes River or that the city can trace its history back to the Romans.

Both of those are kind of important when talking about this last attraction, the Roman Bridge of Salamanca. Likely 2000 years old at this point, it’s only the end nearest to the city centre that has Roman origins. Still, this structure has managed to survive the test of time and reminds me a lot of its cousin in Cordoba.

Besides the history of the bridge itself, visiting the bridge offers a chance to admire more of Salamanca. For starters, there’s the city’s humble river and its green banks. But also, you get a nice view as you look back to the centre of Salamanca.

Well worth the little walk out of the old town.

11. Salamanca by night

If you thought that Salamanca looked gorgeous by day, wait until you get a load of the city by night!

Honestly, I could have just shown only night photos the city is that magical. Like any good Spanish city, Salamanca comes truly alive after dark and somewhere like Plaza Mayor is transcendent when illuminated. Awash in a golden glow, the sandstone used everywhere is at its best when night falls.

Given these were taken without a tripod, I’m pretty stoked about how these night shots came out.

Tours to help with visiting Salamanca

Have you had the chance to visit Salamanca? Where would you start with these sights to see in Salamanca Spain? Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

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