Salamanca and its Twin Cathedrals

Day two of our trip was to Salamanca and Avila. The next few posts will look at these two cities and their most important landmarks.

Salamanca is one of the most interesting cities in Spain with its 13th-century University, twin Cathedral, stories of Lazarillo de Tormes, Felix de Montemar (the Student of Salamanca) and the many writers who made Salamanca their home (e.g., Jovellanos, Meléndez Valdes, Miguel de Unamuno). The city is most beautiful at sunrise and sunset when the golden color of the buildings are at their best.

The Old and New Cathedrals: Salamanca is the home of the only double Cathedral in the world. The Old Cathedral was begun in the 12th century and completed in the 13th. The chimborio of the Cathedral is the Tower of the Rooster with its unique weathervane (seen below).

Inside the Old Cathedral is a beautiful altar composed of 53 scenes from the life of Christ. Above the paintings is a representation of the Final Judgment with the wicked writhing in pain and the righteous praising the Triumphant Christ.

There are also some interesting crypts. This one shows the dead person lying on the a slab while mourners sob and cry, expressing their sadness. Just above the body of the deceased is a miniature of her with two angels carrying her to heaven.

Built alongside and sharing a wall is the New Cathedral which was completed in 1513. This gothic construction is a stark contrast to the simpler Romanesque design of the Old Cathedral. 

The entrance to the New Cathedral is an excellent example of plateresque art and is especially dramatic when the angle of the sun is just right.

With its huge buttresses and towering ceilings, the New Cathedral is a dramatic presence in Salamanca.

The photo below shows the difference in height between the Old Cathedral (the lower tower in the foreground) and the New Cathedral (the tower in the center, background).

The New Cathedral also offers the visitor an amazing center dome with the center piece being a representation of the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove.

One of the unusual elements of the New Cathedral was a restoration that was done on one of the portals. Like sculptors and artisans of the past, the contemporary architects added their own unique characteristics in the renovation. Look carefully and you will find an astronaut and a monkey-like gargoyle with an ice cream cone!

For more information see the Cathedral's Official Website at: http://www.catedralsalamanca.org/