The Route Continues Through Salamanca and Its University Life

On the other side of the river Tormes there is a free car park. From here you can walk across the bridge to the historic centre in just a few minutes.

Salamanca is full of religious enclosures with impressive facades, being the convent of San Esteban one of the maximum expressions of perfection of the architecture.
The reflection of the sun on the walls of the cloister, the confessional full of history where Teresa de Jesús used to go and the Soto staircase are just some of the places that summarize the magnitude of this convent.
Open Hours: All days: 10:00 - 14:00, 16:00 - 18:00.

Actually, when we talk about the Cathedral of Salamanca, we must refer to the cathedrals. The so-called Old Cathedral was going to be destroyed in order to build the New Cathedral in its place. But since during this process the faithful would be left without a place for prayer, it was decided to keep the old one.
Thanks to this, today the two cathedrals can be enjoyed side by side with their chapels, cloisters, and chapter houses. The audio guide is included with the entrance ticket, which allows you to follow the explanations of each place.
As the University of Salamanca has its frog on the main façade, in the Cathedral you have to discover the carved astronaut. Hope you find it!
Open Hours: Monday to Saturday: 11:00 - 20:00. Sunday: 11:00 - 18:00. Last access 45 minutes before closing time

On the way to the Plaza Mayor there are several palaces. The Salina Palace owes its name to a salt deposit that was located inside it.
Because it is now a government site, it is only possible to visit the courtyard of the palace, which gives an ideal of how exuberant it was in medieval times.
Open Hours: Every day: 11:00 - 14:00, 16:40 to 20:00.

Property of the Dukes of Alba, this is an excellent opportunity to see a palace that is still used by the Dukes today.
Luxurious by any standards, the visit includes a tour of most of its rooms and for an additional fee you can even visit the royal kitchens and learn about the recipes that delighted the dukes.

A traditional restaurant, where you can eat on the open-air terrace overlooking the Plaza Mayor or in an enclosed area on the first floor with views of the square.
If you choose to eat inside, access is via a small staircase. Once in the dining room, the paintings of Don Quixote hanging on the wall and the atmosphere of an inn set it apart.
Its speciality is Morucha beef, a local dish, but you can also try tapas (patatas bravas here are incredible), pinchos, tostas, and other delicacies from Salamanca such as lamb.

Want to see the lively student life in Salamanca? There's no better place than the Plaza Mayor, surrounded by bars to get a sense of the importance of the universities in this town.
It's one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, accessed through a series of arches between historic buildings. Take your time to contemplate it.

This former palace is a distinctive building in Salamanca, as its exterior walls are decorated with shells, hence its name.
Inside you can visit free of charge the inner courtyard, which overlooks the upper part of the University, and the State Public Library which occupies its central part.
Open Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 - 21:00. Saturday: 9:00 - 14:00.

The main façade of the church is decorated with large coats of arms in bas-relief, large entrance porticoes and columns.
The visit inside is self-guided. And the most interesting thing is to climb the more than 200 steps to reach the head of the bell tower, from where the views of the rest of the buildings that make up the majestic Salamanca are impressive.
Open Hours: December to February: 10:00 - 17:15. March to November: 10:00 - 19:15.

The third-oldest university in Europe dazzles wherever you look. To visit it you have to take your time, as you can see a large part of its history in places such as the courtyard, the rector's office, the library, the chapel and the minor schools.
It was one of the main hubs where the Castilian language was disseminated. Witness to this is the classroom where the friar Fray Luis de León taught, and a museum dedicated to the writer and university rector Unamuno with several of his books.
Don't miss the famous mural of the Cielo de Salamanca, a painting located on one of the sides of the cloister.
Open Hours: From 16 September to 31 March, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays: 10:00 - 19:00. From 1 April to 15 September, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays: 10:00 - 20:00. Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 - 14:00.
More information about opening times and ticket purchase on the official website of the University of Salamanca.

Time for a little game!
Stand in front of the façade of the University and look carefully among the many figures and reliefs. Have you seen the frog?
Every visitor to Salamanca has the habit of discovering on which part of the façade the figure of the little frog is engraved.
A clue? Find the skull!

Something different to see in Salamanca as it is a modern art museum housed in a small palace whose architecture has been designed taking ideas from industrial buildings.
The iron and, above all, the large amount of painted glass in its windows and ceiling, make it an authentic place, not only to enjoy the exhibits on display but also the beauty of its architecture.
Open Hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00 - 19:00. Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 - 20:00.

A place to relax? This green space located in the heart of the historic centre is related to the Castilian language, as it served as a source of inspiration for Fernando de Rojas in his play La Celestina.
It has several viewpoints with views of different historic buildings in the city.

Pedestrian bridge of Roman origin with its large arches spanning the River Tormes.
At the end of the bridge and on the side opposite the historic centre, the postcard view of Salamanca is spectacular. You must go there at sunset to see the sun reflecting on the stone of the medieval buildings. At sunset, the bridge, the cathedral, and the University of Salamanca are completely illuminated.

The devil used to teach black magic here?
Legend has it that this happened in this small cave that sits on the remains of the Church of San Cebrián. Miguel de Cervantes referred to this myth in his work La Cueva de Salamanca.
In addition, at the top, there is a viewpoint overlooking the orchard and other sites.

Modern, high quality cuisine in a cosy setting. The dishes are prepared with excellent raw materials.
Highlights are the roasted peppers in an oak-grilled salad and the prawn carpaccio. The desserts also enjoy great prestige, including the red fruit soup with cheese ice cream, which has a very special flavour.
Open Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 13:30 - 16:00, 20:30 - 23:30. Sunday: 13:30 - 16:00.

A mixture of classic architecture and modern furnishings, the rooms are spacious and some even have views of the convent of Las Dueñas.
Its standards are worthy of the international chain to which it belongs, with a varied breakfast and a lot of comfort.