Photos: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Weldon Kennedy from London, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo credits
Photos: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Weldon Kennedy from London, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Two cathedrals, standing side by side
Your local guide
Emilio Bermejo
View profile
Highlights
- Two cathedrals, never quite one
- The exact seam between two centuries
- Romanesque stone beside Gothic and Baroque
- A modern joke hidden in old carving
- Why the smaller cathedral was kept
About this tour
This session covers Salamanca's two cathedrals, built directly against each other rather than one replacing the other. You see the Romanesque exterior of the older building, the exact point where the two structures meet, and the elaborate facade of the newer cathedral. I explain why the city chose to keep both rather than demolish the smaller one.
We move slowly along both facades, since the contrast in scale and style is most of what makes this pairing worth seeing properly. I point out the small carved astronaut added during a twentieth-century restoration, a modern joke hidden in centuries-old stone. Questions about either building come up throughout, since I worked here for years myself.
This suits anyone interested in how cities layer their architecture across centuries rather than replacing it outright. It also works well as a central stop connecting most other old town sessions.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Salamanca before heading out.
-
The Old Cathedral's exterior 17 min
The Romanesque cathedral, begun in the twelfth century, stands directly against its much larger successor. I explain why the older building was kept rather than demolished once the new one was built.
-
Where the two buildings meet 17 min
You can see the exact point where the Romanesque stonework of the old cathedral gives way to the Gothic and Baroque work of the new one. I point out the difference in scale between the two styles built centuries apart.
-
The New Cathedral's main facade 17 min
The later cathedral's elaborate facade mixes Gothic and Baroque decoration added across different building phases. I point out a small carved astronaut added by restorers decades ago as a private joke, now a minor local curiosity.
-
Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Salamanca: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
-
A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Jamón ibérico and Arrabal del Puente, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Madrid time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Salamanca, showing you The Old Cathedral's exterior and Where the two buildings meet live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the two facades live with my phone.
Times shown in Madrid time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Wed 28 Oct · 8 seats left From 27,00 €
Book