Escuelas Mayores de Salamanca, Gothic academic building in Salamanca, Spain
The Escuelas Mayores is a Gothic academic building in Salamanca with a Plateresque stone facade. Inside, you find a central courtyard surrounded by galleries, an auditorium, a library, and a chapel arranged in medieval style.
Construction started in 1411 under Alonso Rodriguez and continued until 1533, marking the founding of Spain's first major university center. This long building project reflects how important the institution became over time.
The ornate stone facade shows royal emblems and detailed carvings that catch the eye as you walk past. Visitors often look for the famous frog sculpture hidden among the decorative elements, a tradition connected to student hopes for success.
The building is open Monday through Saturday with regular hours, making it easy to plan a visit. Guided tours in multiple languages are available at the entrance, helping you understand the spaces as you move through them.
The interior staircase features relief carvings showing different life stages, representing a moral path toward controlling human desires. This artistic choice reveals how education was understood as a journey toward self-mastery, not just knowledge.
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