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Monument · Salamanca, Castile and León
Universidad de Salamanca
University founded in 1218, with the Escuelas Mayores building, the plateresque façade of the frog, the historic library, Fray Luis de León's lecture room, and the Cielo de Salamanca.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Universidad de Salamanca
The Universidad de Salamanca was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX of León and is the oldest university in Spain still in operation. In the 16th century it enjoyed great prestige in Europe, with professors such as Francisco de Vitoria and Fray Luis de León, and it was there that issues of international law and the implications of Columbus's voyage were debated.
The historic building, the Escuelas Mayores, has a plateresque façade completed around 1529, a large carved stone panel with medallions of the Reyes Católicos, coats of arms, mythological and grotesque figures. Hidden among the ornaments, a small frog on a skull has become a challenge for visitors who try to find it.
Inside, around a courtyard, are the old classrooms with wooden benches, including the room of Fray Luis de León, who, according to tradition, returned from Inquisition prison saying to his students "dicebamus hesterna die," as we said yesterday. The staircase has reliefs and leads to the Biblioteca Histórica, with wooden shelves and books from the 15th to the 18th centuries, viewed through a glazed door.
On the other side of the Patio de Escuelas, in the Escuelas Menores, is the Cielo de Salamanca, part of a 15th-century vaulted painting with constellations and zodiac signs, attributed to Fernando Gallego.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Best time
In the morning, before the tour groups, and with side light on the façade. It is closed on some days and has reduced hours on Sundays; check the schedule.
How to get there
It is on Calle Libreros, in the Patio de Escuelas, a 5-minute walk from the Plaza Mayor and next to the cathedrals.
Tip
Before entering, look for the frog on the right pilaster, in the upper third of the façade; if you don't find it, locals will give you a hint. Buy your ticket at the ticket office in the Patio de Escuelas and don't skip the Cielo de Salamanca in the Escuelas Menores.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Universidad de Salamanca
Where is the frog on the university façade?
On top of a skull, on the right pilaster, in the upper third of the plateresque façade. It is small and sits among the decorations.
Is the University of Salamanca the oldest in Spain?
It is the oldest still in operation, founded in 1218.
What is the Cielo de Salamanca?
What remains of a 15th-century vault painting of constellations and zodiac signs, in the Escuelas Menores.