CATHEDRALS

The Vieja Catédral and the Nueva Catédral, which stand side by side, offer a vast architectural repertoire, from the late Romanesque (^12th-13th centuries) to the Renaissance Gothic of the Nueva Catédral, whose construction began in 1513 and lasted over two centuries. The astonishing cohabitation of styles is clearly visible on the exterior, from the Patio Chico, where the Rooster Tower (1163), topped by a Byzantine dome, unfurls its lobular apses, to the Nueva Catédral, beside it, which pours a cascade of stone trimmings onto its Salmantine façade.

The same motifs are found on the opposite side façade. The main portal is adorned with Epiphany scenes. Inside, the volume is emphasized by cornices. The chapels are nothing special. Only the Golden Chapel, adorned with azulejos and Gothic sculptures, is worth a visit.

Next to it is the entrance to the Old Cathedral. The centerpiece is the central altarpiece, comprising 53 ^15th-century paintings by Italian masters, topped by a vast Renaissance fresco depicting the Last Judgment.

The cloister, remodeled in the ^18th century, is surrounded by numerous primitive chapels, notably Salvador's, with its superb Mudéjar vault, and Santa Bárbara's. The chapter house houses the collections of the Diocesan Museum.

Since 2023, an immersive "Cathedral as you've never seen it" room, which you discover with a virtual reality headset, has been included with admission.