Catedral Vieja de Santa María de la Sede de Salamanca — Local services in Salamanca

This is the older of the churches that make up Salamanca Cathedral. The Old Cathedral dates back to the 12th century when founded by Bishop Jerome Perigord. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries and is mainly Romanesque in architecture with some Gothic features including the vaulted nave. The Old Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria de la Sede (St. Mary of the See).

The Old Cathedral can be visited as part of a combined ticket (€10 per adult) that includes entry into the New Cathedral, cloister & historic chapels as well as the Episcopal Palace exhibition rooms just across from the cathedrals at Plaza Juan XXIII.

Highlights for us were the frescos in St. Martin's Chapel and the beautiful ancient chapel of St. Barbara. However, most impressive is the apse altarpiece, a cycle of 53 scenes known collectively as the Final Judgement by Italian painter Dello Delli. This is a remarkable cathedral treasure, worth spending some time to enjoy.

The cloister area was mainly closed during our visit but we enjoyed the small museum setup with a handful of rooms containing cathedral antiquity and artworks. Then, through the shop and over to the Episcopal Palace to see the exhibition rooms and artworks there. That wraps up your visit to the Salamanca...

The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. While it predominantly features Romanesque architecture, its dome reflects a transitional style towards Gothic architecture. The exterior of the dome is adorned with a scale-like pattern, and at its peak, a rooster-shaped weathervane gives the structure its name, the Tower of the Rooster. The primary architects responsible for the cathedral’s construction include Florín de Pituenga, Cassandro Romano, Álvar García, Pedro de la Obra, Juan el Pedrero, Sancho Pedro, Juan Franco, and Petrus Petri, whose names are preserved in the cathedral's archives. The cathedral also houses 13th- and 14th-century Gothic murals, one of the oldest organs in Europe, and ancient tombs, all of which reflect the artistic heritage of medieval Europe. Additionally, the cathedral played a crucial role in the origins of the University of Salamanca, founded in 1218. Some of the earliest university lectures were held within the cathedral, and it maintained a close relationship with the university throughout history. In particular, the Capilla de Santa Bárbara served as the venue for doctoral examinations and faculty appointments at the University of...

Catedral Vieja or Old Cathedral was founded by Bishop Jerome of Perigord (10??-1120), and was built in XII-XV centuries, and it is expressively Late-Romanesque/Early Gothic in style. High altar was created in 1430-1450 and its 58 panels were painted by Italian painters Dello Delli (1403-1470) and his brothers Nicola Delli and Sansone Delli. The population of Salamanca was growing very quickly in the XV century because of its university, and Old Cathedral couldn't admit all believers. That is why King Fernando, the Catholic (1452-1516), who was the Fernando II of Aragon and Fernando V of Castile commissioned construction of new cathedral. It was built between 1513 and 1733 right over the old cathedral. That's why today you can see old cathedral only from the belfry. The project of the cathedral was designed by Spanish architects Anton Egas and Alonso Rodrigues. The first stone of New Cathedral was laid in 1512 by Francisco de Cabrera y Bobadilla (14??-1529) the Bishop of Salamanca. His splendid tomb is in the New Cathedral. Salamanca, Castile and Leon, Kingdom of 🇪🇸 Spain 🇪🇸....