One of the city's most endearing buildings, Casa de las Conchas is named after the 300 scallop shells clinging to its facade. The house's original owner, Dr Rodrigo Maldonado de Talavera, was a doctor at the court of Isabel and a member of the Order of Santiago, whose symbol is the shell. It now houses the public library, entered via a charming colonnaded courtyard with a central fountain and intricate stone tracery.
Casa de las Conchas
Salamanca
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.18 MILES
Built between 1729 and 1755, Salamanca's exceptional grand square is widely considered to be Spain's most beautiful central plaza. It's particularly…
0.14 MILES
The tower of this late-Gothic cathedral lords over the city centre, its compelling Churrigueresque (an ornate style of baroque architecture) dome visible…
0.17 MILES
The Catedral Nueva's largely Romanesque predecessor, the Catedral Vieja is adorned with an exquisite 15th-century altarpiece, one of the finest outside…
0.12 MILES
Founded initially as the Estudio General in 1218, the university reached the peak of its renown in the 15th and 16th centuries. The visual feast of the…
0.22 MILES
Just down the hill from the cathedral, the lordly Dominican Convento de San Esteban's church has an extraordinary altar-like facade, with the stoning of…
Museo de Art Nouveau y Art Decó
0.23 MILES
Utterly unlike any other Salamanca museum, this stunning collection of sculpture, paintings and art deco and art nouveau pieces inhabits a beautiful,…
0.17 MILES
For fine views over Salamanca, head to the tower at the southwestern corner of the Catedral Nueva's facade. From here, stairs lead up through the tower,…
Museo de la Industria Chacinera
27.83 MILES
Despite the rather functional name, this interactive museum is dedicated to jamón and nothing but. In the first room, videos demonstrate the production of…
Nearby Salamanca attractions
1. Real Clerecía de San Marcos
0.03 MILES
Visits to this colossal baroque church and the attached Catholic university are via obligatory guided tours (in Spanish), which run every 45 minutes. You…
0.12 MILES
Founded initially as the Estudio General in 1218, the university reached the peak of its renown in the 15th and 16th centuries. The visual feast of the…
0.12 MILES
Romanesque Iglesia de San Martín is wedged among houses, but is a pretty encore to the adjacent Plaza Mayor. The south portal in particular is worth…
0.13 MILES
Housed in the former residence of Queen Isabel's doctor, this museum is more interesting for the picture of tranquil Salamanca residential life in its…
0.14 MILES
The tower of this late-Gothic cathedral lords over the city centre, its compelling Churrigueresque (an ornate style of baroque architecture) dome visible…
0.14 MILES
This 15th-century octagonal fortress has an unusual square base and smaller cylindrical towers.
0.15 MILES
The main (and only) attraction here is the beautiful pale-blue ceiling fresco of the zodiac, which was painted in the 15th century and uncovered during…
0.17 MILES
From the southwestern corner of Plaza Mayor, Calle del Prior leads to the Palacio de Monterrey, a 16th-century royal holiday home and a seminal piece of…