Hotel Rector, Salamanca

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They do not do dinner

In Hotel Rector is a boutique hotel in the historic centre of the city of Salamanca. The hotel is located in an old house dating from 1930, close to Casa Lis (art deco and art noveau museum), Salamanca's Cathedral and the Roman bridge. Hotel Rector has 14 rooms, a private garage for guests and fully equipped gym. All rooms, such as the café and lounges, are for the exclusive use of our guests, which makes this hotel an ideal place to relax.

There is a Michelin low cost Tapas 3.0 at C. Sánchez Barbero, 9. Salamanca open 20:00 a 23_45h on Sundays. Tapas 3.0 Charred leeks in carbonara sauce and superb patatas bravas are two of the standout dishes at this must-book Michelin-rated tapas bar, tucked away in an alley near the Plaza Mayor. Leave room for a slice of its fabulous flan (mains from £13; tapastrespuntocero.es).

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What to see and do

• Not many cities have semi-detached cathedrals. The best way to see Salamanca’s conjoined beauties, one dating from the 12th century and the other from the 16th, is to climb the steps to the roof to get friendly with the gargoyles and score a bird’s eye view of the glorious interiors of both. Remember, though, to time your visit so you’re not in the bell tower when the bells strike on the quarter hour. Entry is a bargain £3; swerve the £17 guided tour, which is only in Spanish (ieronimus.es).
• The extravagantly decorated Dominican Convento de San Esteban, where Christopher Columbus is supposed to have stayed while he was lecturing at the university, has a wonderful gothic-Renaissance cloister and blingy gilded 17th-century altar by José Churriguera (£4; conventosanestaban.es). Compare and contrast with the modest Convento de las Dueñas across the street, where you can buy truly delicious homemade almond buns and biscuits from one of the nuns in its little shop.
• Salamanca’s old town is spectacular at night, whether you’re in the fabulously baroque and beautifully lit main square, Plaza Mayor, built in 1729 for bullfighting, or strolling past ancient buildings made from local Villamayor sandstone, which are lit up at night and glow honey-gold. Don’t miss the striking 15th-century Casa de la Conchas, named after the hundreds of scallop shells that cover its façade and which is now the public library.
• The city’s university looks like Oxford on steroids. Wander through the cloisters to find an exquisite 15th-century mural, a medieval view of the heavens, known as The Sky of Salamanca, by Fernando Gallego, in one of the rooms of the Minor Schools. Peer through the gloom to spot delicate angels, stars and chariots emerge from the palest of blue backgrounds (free; sac.usal.es).
• Casa Lis, aka the Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, was built in 1905 for the local entrepreneur Miguel de Lis. Go to admire its marvellous façade and stained-glass ceilings rather than the exhibits (belle époque jewellery, glassware and porcelain dolls), which don’t quite live up to the jewel box setting, and be sure to leave time for a pit stop in one the most beautiful museum cafés in the world; its speciality is coffee with condensed milk and spices (entry £6; museocasalis.org).
• Have a go at the students’ favourite game: trying to spot the famous frog carved on top of a skull on the main entrance of the university. Success is supposed to bring good luck in exams. You’ll find it much easier to locate the astronaut on the portico of the New Cathedral, carved in 1992 when the building was undergoing restoration.

Salamanca looks as if it has sprung fully formed from the pages of a fairytale. Its Unesco-listed old town, filled with ancient honey-coloured sandstone buildings and winding cobbled streets, is so beautiful it’s often used as a film set and even has its very own blood-red typeface, splashed across street signs and ornate landmarks. But La Dorada (the Golden City) is no museum piece and is a brilliant choice for a relaxed getaway. The city is home to one of the oldest universities in the world so student energy keeps things lively and laid-back, while the food scene is an authentic, affordable joy, especially if you’re a fan of piggy treats. Tucking into a plate of the region’s jamon iberico is reason enough to visit. Compact, walkable and endlessly photogenic, the city is at its best in spring or early autumn and is an easy 140-mile journey northwest from Madrid.

On to Eclipse at Palacio de Luces

Holiday 2026 Solar Eclipse and France

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