Convento de Sant Esteban, Dominican monastery in Salamanca, Spain
The monastery sits on Plaza del Concilio de Trento and shows a richly decorated facade with a portico of semicircular arches built between 1590 and 1592. The church has a single nave with chapels set between buttresses and a main cloister used for processions.
Construction began in 1524 and continued until 1610, with several architects developing the building over the decades. The long construction period allowed late Gothic and Plateresque elements to merge within a single complex.
During the Counter-Reformation, the monastery became a center of theological studies where Francisco de Vitoria established the School of Salamanca.
The monastery sits in the historic center and is within walking distance of most city landmarks. Visitors should allow time for the cloister and staircase, which are separate areas inside the building.
The Staircase of Soto from the 16th century supports itself only through cantilevers attached to the walls, without any additional supports. This technique was revolutionary for its time and shows the craft skill of the builders.
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