Introduction
The Tower of the Rooster and the main altarpiece are outstanding features.
Historical fact
In 1102 Count Raimundo de Borgoña and his wife Princess Urraca de Castilla founded the Old Cathedral of Salamanca. They granted the town council a large number of privileges and they subjected a large number of parishes of the province of Salamanca to its jurisdiction. Construction on the cathedral began in 1140. A number of architects participated in the project, among whom the Spaniard Juan Franco and the Frenchman Pierre d´Aix stand out. Experts have distinguished three phases of construction. In the first phase (1150-1175), the apse, the cross vault and the lateral walls of the naves were built. In the second phase (1175-1200), the cloister was built and the naves were covered with domes. In the third phase (1175-1200), the tower of the Rooster was constructed.
By the middle of the century 9th cathedral chapters had definitively settled in Europe. In them, a group of priests lived together with the bishop who advised them. As in monasteries, life in common required a series of norms: all the priests had to dress wearing a common habit and all the cathedrals had to have a cloister and a choir.
Donations were fundamental for building and maintaining cathedrals. In exchange for their contributions, particular donors were guaranteed a pardon of their sins, a worthy funeral and a ceremony on the anniversaries of their death.
On the other hand, the donations and privileges that the kings granted to the cathedral chapters did not have an altruistic purpose only. In the 12th century violence and wars with the Muslims were razing the Iberian Peninsula. Most of its territories had become uninhabited lands. The Monarchy needed vassals to cultivate those lands and pay taxes. But, at the same time, he had to guarantee their safety. The Church and the nobility assumed this role in exchange for privileges and favours. These privileges and donations from the king guaranteed that the chathedrals would be built and maintained.
Architectural element
Contrary to other Romanesque churchs, the Old Cathedral of Salamanca stands out due to the great height of its naves and to its highly illuminated interior. It was built on the design of a Latin cross with three semicircular apses and a prominent cross vault. The apses are covered with barrel vaults with pointed arches. The central and side naves are covered with Gothic cross vaults. This type of covering was not part of the original project, so the pillars had to be reinforced to hold the weight. The capitals are richly decorated with floral motifs, biblical themes and mythological beings.
But, without a doubt, the most characteristic element in the Old Cathedral is the Tower of the Rooster. Considered one of the masterpieces of Spanish Romanesque art, this dome has a drum with a double line of windows and cylindrical towers. The structure is crowned with a pyramid shaped structure decorated with stone flakes and leaves on the edges. These decorative elements are of palpable oriental influence. Salamanca was one of the main stops on the route of silver, along which Byzantine pilgrims arrived to the city. Also a number of Frenchmen who worked on the construction of the cathedral had close contacts with the Byzantine Empire.
Other artistic elements
The altarpiece of the Old Cathedral was painted in 1445 by Dello da Niccoló Delli of Florence, who received the order from Bishop Gonzalo de Vivero. Although it has an ornamental and artistic purpose, its main function is educational. In a society in which most of the population was illiterate, images were the only way to teach the faithful. The altarpiece, which should be read from the bottom up and from the left to the right, is composed of fifty three coloured charts painted in tempera which show the most significant episodes in the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. It is crowned with a scene of the Last Judgement. At Jesus' right are the righteous receiving salvation. To the left are the sinners who are devoured by a great monster that symbolises hell.
A carving of the Virgin de la Vega presides over the altarpiece. The Virgin de la Vega is the patron saint of Salamanca. This carving is considered one of the best examples of medieval metalwork. It is a wooden sculpture covered with copper, brass and gold pieces. The eyes are made of black jet and the robes are covered with precious stones. The faces of the Virgin and Baby Jesus are a perfect example of the lack of expression that characterised medieval sculpture.
The chapel of Saint Martin, located under the Tower of the Bells, was founded around 1262 by Bishop Pedro Pérez. In front of the entrance we find the sepulcher of the bishop, who is shown with a staff and miter. On the chest, held up by lions, we find scenes of his funeral. The Epiphany is depicted under the arch. One of the Magi is giving myrrh to Baby Jesus. Myrrh, oil that was used to embalm cadavers in antiquity, symbolises immortality in medieval iconography. The Last Judgement is depicted in the centre of the chapel. Angels at Christ’s feet call the dead to rise from their tombs for the last judgement. At Jesus' right, the righteous receive their reward; at his left, the sinners are pushed toward hell with lances.
Diverse sepulchres are located along the walls of the cloister. The sepulchre of archdeacon Gutiérrez de Castro stands out due to the magnificent relief personifying Mercy. Four chapels connect with the galleries of the cloister. The chapel of Saint Bartholomew holds the sepulchers of the Anaya family. In the centre is the sepulcher of the founder of the chapel: Diego de Anaya y Maldonado. Made in alabaster, it is surrounded by a wrought iron grill made in 1514.
Curiosity legend
The chapel of Saint Martin is also known as the Chapel of Oil because it contained the oil that was used for the lamps of the cathedral. Due to the thickness of its walls, the cathedral was used as an antiaircraft refuge during the Spanish Civil War. At one point General Franco took up refuge in its interior.
The dome of the old cathedral is known locally as the "Tower of the Rooster" because of the vane in the shape of a rooster that crowns it.
Open hours
From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Price: 3€. For pensioners 2.25 €. Tuesday mornings: until 12:00 am. Spaniards enter free.
Construction date
Throughout the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Tower of the Rooster and the main altarpiece are outstanding features.
Historical fact
In 1102 Count Raimundo de Borgoña and his wife Princess Urraca de Castilla founded the Old Cathedral of Salamanca. They granted the town council a large number of privileges and they subjected a large number of parishes of the province of Salamanca to its jurisdiction. Construction on the cathedral began in 1140. A number of architects participated in the project, among whom the Spaniard Juan Franco and the Frenchman Pierre d´Aix stand out. Experts have distinguished three phases of construction. In the first phase (1150-1175), the apse, the cross vault and the lateral walls of the naves were built. In the second phase (1175-1200), the cloister was built and the naves were covered with domes. In the third phase (1175-1200), the tower of the Rooster was constructed.
By the middle of the century 9th cathedral chapters had definitively settled in Europe. In them, a group of priests lived together with the bishop who advised them. As in monasteries, life in common required a series of norms: all the priests had to dress wearing a common habit and all the cathedrals had to have a cloister and a choir.
Donations were fundamental for building and maintaining cathedrals. In exchange for their contributions, particular donors were guaranteed a pardon of their sins, a worthy funeral and a ceremony on the anniversaries of their death.
On the other hand, the donations and privileges that the kings granted to the cathedral chapters did not have an altruistic purpose only. In the 12th century violence and wars with the Muslims were razing the Iberian Peninsula. Most of its territories had become uninhabited lands. The Monarchy needed vassals to cultivate those lands and pay taxes. But, at the same time, he had to guarantee their safety. The Church and the nobility assumed this role in exchange for privileges and favours. These privileges and donations from the king guaranteed that the chathedrals would be built and maintained.
Architectural element
Contrary to other Romanesque churchs, the Old Cathedral of Salamanca stands out due to the great height of its naves and to its highly illuminated interior. It was built on the design of a Latin cross with three semicircular apses and a prominent cross vault. The apses are covered with barrel vaults with pointed arches. The central and side naves are covered with Gothic cross vaults. This type of covering was not part of the original project, so the pillars had to be reinforced to hold the weight. The capitals are richly decorated with floral motifs, biblical themes and mythological beings.
But, without a doubt, the most characteristic element in the Old Cathedral is the Tower of the Rooster. Considered one of the masterpieces of Spanish Romanesque art, this dome has a drum with a double line of windows and cylindrical towers. The structure is crowned with a pyramid shaped structure decorated with stone flakes and leaves on the edges. These decorative elements are of palpable oriental influence. Salamanca was one of the main stops on the route of silver, along which Byzantine pilgrims arrived to the city. Also a number of Frenchmen who worked on the construction of the cathedral had close contacts with the Byzantine Empire.
Other artistic elements
The altarpiece of the Old Cathedral was painted in 1445 by Dello da Niccoló Delli of Florence, who received the order from Bishop Gonzalo de Vivero. Although it has an ornamental and artistic purpose, its main function is educational. In a society in which most of the population was illiterate, images were the only way to teach the faithful. The altarpiece, which should be read from the bottom up and from the left to the right, is composed of fifty three coloured charts painted in tempera which show the most significant episodes in the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. It is crowned with a scene of the Last Judgement. At Jesus' right are the righteous receiving salvation. To the left are the sinners who are devoured by a great monster that symbolises hell.
A carving of the Virgin de la Vega presides over the altarpiece. The Virgin de la Vega is the patron saint of Salamanca. This carving is considered one of the best examples of medieval metalwork. It is a wooden sculpture covered with copper, brass and gold pieces. The eyes are made of black jet and the robes are covered with precious stones. The faces of the Virgin and Baby Jesus are a perfect example of the lack of expression that characterised medieval sculpture.
The chapel of Saint Martin, located under the Tower of the Bells, was founded around 1262 by Bishop Pedro Pérez. In front of the entrance we find the sepulcher of the bishop, who is shown with a staff and miter. On the chest, held up by lions, we find scenes of his funeral. The Epiphany is depicted under the arch. One of the Magi is giving myrrh to Baby Jesus. Myrrh, oil that was used to embalm cadavers in antiquity, symbolises immortality in medieval iconography. The Last Judgement is depicted in the centre of the chapel. Angels at Christ’s feet call the dead to rise from their tombs for the last judgement. At Jesus' right, the righteous receive their reward; at his left, the sinners are pushed toward hell with lances.
Diverse sepulchres are located along the walls of the cloister. The sepulchre of archdeacon Gutiérrez de Castro stands out due to the magnificent relief personifying Mercy. Four chapels connect with the galleries of the cloister. The chapel of Saint Bartholomew holds the sepulchers of the Anaya family. In the centre is the sepulcher of the founder of the chapel: Diego de Anaya y Maldonado. Made in alabaster, it is surrounded by a wrought iron grill made in 1514.
Curiosity legend
The chapel of Saint Martin is also known as the Chapel of Oil because it contained the oil that was used for the lamps of the cathedral. Due to the thickness of its walls, the cathedral was used as an antiaircraft refuge during the Spanish Civil War. At one point General Franco took up refuge in its interior.
The dome of the old cathedral is known locally as the "Tower of the Rooster" because of the vane in the shape of a rooster that crowns it.
Open hours
From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Price: 3€. For pensioners 2.25 €. Tuesday mornings: until 12:00 am. Spaniards enter free.
Construction date
Throughout the 12th and 13th centuries.
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