Old Cathedral Catedral Vieja
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Why go
- The main altarpiece: 53 panels by the Delli brothers, with the Virgin of la Vega, patron of the city, above them.
- Torre del Gallo, the dome over the crossing, named after the rooster weathervane on top.
- The Santa Bárbara chapel, with its starry vault and one of the oldest surviving organs, from the 16th century.
- The Gothic wall paintings inside, counted among the finest of their kind in Europe.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 20:00Show all
Don't miss
- Last Judgment in the apseThe Last Judgment painted in the apse half-dome by Nicolò Delli, also called Niccolò Florentino.In the apse half-dome of the cathedral. On the map
- Birth of Christ by Fernando GallegoA painting in the second chapter room, one of three works by Gallego in the chapter rooms.The chapter rooms of the cloister, now the cathedral museum. On the map
- Painted miracles of the Cristo de las BatallasEighteen miracles attributed to the Cristo de las Batallas, painted and described on the wall.Inside the church, on a wall. On the map
- Torre MochaThe right-hand tower, never finished, can still be seen.The west front, right-hand tower. On the map
- San Martín chapelPaintings attributed to Antón Sánchez de Segovia, in a chapel also called del Aceite.At the foot of the cathedral, under the bell tower. On the map
Know before you go
- The church is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Legends and hidden details
- According to tradition, the image of Santa María la Blanca was brought here after a flood destroyed its church in 1626.
Interesting facts6
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The figure of Christ in the apse follows a scheme later used by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
Old Cathedral of Salamanca - Wikipedia -
Newly made doctors had their names written on a wall as an anagram of Victor.
Old Cathedral of Salamanca - Wikipedia -
Candidates for a degree were locked in the chapel overnight before their exam.
Old Cathedral of Salamanca - Wikipedia -
Statue-ribs placed on the vault corbels are rare examples in the church.
La Catedral Vieja - Catedral de Salamanca -
A large crucifix made of corn paste has an unknown author.
La Catedral Vieja - Catedral de Salamanca -
Two of the Anaya family tombs keep their original colours.
Old Cathedral of Salamanca - Wikipedia
History
Building began after King Alfonso VI restored the diocese. Work started at the east end, with the cloister from 1162 and the transept around 1175. Bishop Alfonso Barasaque pushed the works forward in 1363 so the church could be finished. In 1513 the new cathedral was planned beside it, and the old church was nearly demolished but kept.
- 1102The diocese is re-established after King Alfonso VI restores it.
- 12th centuryBishop Jerome of Périgord founds the cathedral, and building begins.
- around 1150The dome over the transept is built, later called the Torre del Gallo.
- 1174A cathedral school is first recorded, the seed of the later university.
- late 14th centuryThe building is finished, mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles.
Show all
- 1513Work starts on the new cathedral beside the old one, lasting until 1733.
- 1755An earthquake damages the original cloister; the present cloister is a later rebuild.
- 1988The old town of Salamanca, with this cathedral, joins the UNESCO heritage list.
Sources: Old Cathedral of Salamanca - Wikipedia · La Catedral Vieja - Catedral de Salamanca · Alte Kathedrale von Salamanca - Wikipedia · Catedral Vieja de Salamanca - Wikipedia · Vieille cathédrale de Salamanque - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +34 923 21 74 76
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of the Old Cathedral in Salamanca?
The Old Cathedral is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Where is the Old Cathedral in Salamanca?
It stands at Plaza Juan XXII. It shares its roof with the New Cathedral, which is joined to it and forms one complex.
What is the Torre del Gallo at the Old Cathedral?
It is the dome over the crossing, named after the rooster weathervane on top. Its outer surface is covered in scales.
Is the Old Cathedral one of two cathedrals in Salamanca?
Yes. It is one of the two cathedrals in Salamanca, alongside the New Cathedral beside it.
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