Salamanca Old Cathedral, Cathedral in Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca Old Cathedral is a Romanesque cathedral in the historic center of the city, laid out as a Latin cross with three naves, semicircular arches, and a pronounced transept. Above the crossing rises the Torre del Gallo, a tower with a characteristic dome structure that is easily visible from outside.
Construction began in the early 12th century under Bishop Jerome of Périgord and continued until 1236. The long building period marks the shift from Romanesque to early Gothic, visible in different architectural elements inside the structure.
The main altarpiece consists of 53 panels created between 1430 and 1450, showing scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus. These painted panels draw visitors interested in late medieval religious art and the details of each narrative episode.
Access is through the adjoining new cathedral building, from which you enter the older spaces. The cathedral museum in the chapter rooms displays valuable paintings, including works by Fernando Gallego, which visitors can view at their own pace.
The Chapel of Santa Barbara served for centuries as an examination room for University of Salamanca students, who took their academic exams there. This link between religious space and university life shaped the chapel's use well into the 20th century.
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