Salamanca - Old Cathedral Catedral Vieja
Immediately adjoining the south side of the New Cathedral is the Romanesque Old Cathedral of Santa María de la Sede, which is entered from the south aisle of the New Cathedral. It is difficult to get a general view of both cathedrals; the best view of the exterior of the Old Cathedral, however, is from the Patio Chico, which is reached from a doorway in the south aisle of the New Cathedral.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The Old Cathedral, one of the most splendid buildings of its period in Spain, was begun about 1100 and was probably ompleted before 1200. From the Patio Chico there is a view of the chancel, with a magnificent tower-like dome over the crossing, known as the Torre del Gallo from the figure of a cock which surmounts it.
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Open | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
October 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Open | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Close | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 |
Related Attractions
Old Cathedral - Cloister
The 12th century Cloister was badly damaged in the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt from 1785 onwards, so that little Romanesque work is left. Among Romanesque features that survive are the Mudéjar-style Capilla de Talavera, with sculpture by Alonso Berruguete and the tomb of the founder (owner of the Casa de las Conchas), and the 14th century Capilla de Santa Bárbara, in which candidates for the doctorate spent the night before their final examination and appeared before their examiners.
Old Cathedral - Interior
In the principal apse is a monumental retablo with 53 scenes from the life of Christ and the life of the Virgin. Like the large fresco of the Last Judgment in the vaulting of the apse, it was the work of Nicol Ás Florentino (1445 onwards). In the center of the retablo is a 12th century statue of the Virgen de la Vega, plated with bronze and decked with precious stones. In the Capilla de San Martín, in the tower, are wall paintings, which, like those in the aisles, show French influence.
The Diocesan Museum
The Diocesan Museum, in the former chapterhouse, which contains fine works by Fernando Gallego ("Virgin with the Rose" triptych, "Coronation of the Virgin"), a triptych by Juan de Flandes, a 13th century ivory figure of the Virgin and a Renaissance organ from the University.
