Interpretation Center of the Salmantine Walls
45 minutes
Salmantica Sedes Antigua Castrorum is the Interpretation Center of the walls of Salamanca. It is located in La Calle Carvajal, in front of the Cave of Salamanca. It is an archaeological classroom with in situ remains of two of the defensive enclosures with which the city counted. The museumization of the space allows us to know when they were built and what the walls that defended the city were like throughout its almost three thousand years of history.
In the Interpretation Centre you can see in situ the remains of the pre-Roman wall and the old medieval fence. These remains were discovered in excavations carried out in 1999.
This space allows us to take a trip through the history and war events in which the city was immersed. All these historical processes are explained through panels, audiovisuals and interactive screens. The tour begins with the first occupation of the city on Cerro de San Vicente and ends with the various episodes linked to the War of Independence. Between these two moments it is explained how the walls of the pre-Roman fort were in the 4th century BC; the siege by Carthaginian General Hannibal; the evolution of the two medieval walls and their demolition in the 19th century.
Some replicas of objects from the time when the wall was built (celtiberian vessels and circular mills) and Roman inscriptions are shown.
The visit can be made individually by following the information on the posters and interactive screens. It has audio guides and texts with information in braille. At certain times there are also guided tours and archaeological workshops for schoolchildren. For the consultation of the guided tours it is advisable to visit the page www.salamancaymas.es.
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In the Interpretation Centre you can see in situ the remains of the pre-Roman wall and the old medieval fence. These remains were discovered in excavations carried out in 1999.
This space allows us to take a trip through the history and war events in which the city was immersed. All these historical processes are explained through panels, audiovisuals and interactive screens. The tour begins with the first occupation of the city on Cerro de San Vicente and ends with the various episodes linked to the War of Independence. Between these two moments it is explained how the walls of the pre-Roman fort were in the 4th century BC; the siege by Carthaginian General Hannibal; the evolution of the two medieval walls and their demolition in the 19th century.
Some replicas of objects from the time when the wall was built (celtiberian vessels and circular mills) and Roman inscriptions are shown.
The visit can be made individually by following the information on the posters and interactive screens. It has audio guides and texts with information in braille. At certain times there are also guided tours and archaeological workshops for schoolchildren. For the consultation of the guided tours it is advisable to visit the page www.salamancaymas.es.
The route is structured in four spaces, in which, through panels and interctive screens, we can know the stages of construction of the Salamanca walls:
1.- Inlet stilt
The ditch is a viewpoint that allows us to contemplate the two walls discovered in the archaeological excavations carried out on this site in 1999. The pre-Roman fort wall and the Old Fence or first medieval fence (s-XII). A screen explains the remains discovered during archaeological excavations at the site.
Here several infographics tell us the symbolic value of the walls and show us, in summary form, the successive defenses with which the city had throughout its long history.
2.- Corridor of the wall
This corridor runs parallel to the pre-Roman wall. To our right we can see 32 meters of the inner canvas of the Castro wall, which runs in a north-south direction. It is built with irregular sandstone blocks and the maximum preserved height is 2.90 m.
On the posters located on the wall on the left, visitors are informed of the two villages that existed on the site of ancient Salamanca during the first millennium BC. The town of Cerro de San Vicente, corresponding to the Culture of Soto de Medinilla, and the pre-Roman castro located in the Teso de las Catedrales from the 4th century BC
3.- Main room
The posters show the evolution of the city and its walls from the medieval repopulation, in the twelfth century, to the Napoleonic fortifications of the early nineteenth century.
A large panel recreates how the pre-Roman castro could be when it was conquered by Hannibal in 220 BC. Episode related by the Greek historian Polybius who tells us: “... and the following summer, addressing again the vacceos, attacking her on the fly, he seized Helmantiké”. With this quote, the first written reference about our city, Salamanca entered history.
The main room has two interactive screens with the explanation of each area.
• The first screen offers three virtual tours: Old Salamanca, the Via de la Plata and the archaeological heritage on the banks of the Tormes.
• The second exposes, through photos and videos, the fortifications of the province: pre-Roman, medieval, modern and contemporary.
In this room are shown some archaeological remains (circular mill, ashlar and Roman inscriptions) and replicas of celtiberian ceramics.
4.- Garden of the Hotel Don Gregorio
The lattice door immediately below the Interpretation Centre gives access to the garden of the Don Gregorio hotel. From the inside of this you can see a well-preserved stretch of the outer face of Cerca Vieja. It is a stretch of 32 meters in length at the north end protrudes a quadrangular tower of about 5m. in length.
1.- Inlet stilt
The ditch is a viewpoint that allows us to contemplate the two walls discovered in the archaeological excavations carried out on this site in 1999. The pre-Roman fort wall and the Old Fence or first medieval fence (s-XII). A screen explains the remains discovered during archaeological excavations at the site.
Here several infographics tell us the symbolic value of the walls and show us, in summary form, the successive defenses with which the city had throughout its long history.
2.- Corridor of the wall
This corridor runs parallel to the pre-Roman wall. To our right we can see 32 meters of the inner canvas of the Castro wall, which runs in a north-south direction. It is built with irregular sandstone blocks and the maximum preserved height is 2.90 m.
On the posters located on the wall on the left, visitors are informed of the two villages that existed on the site of ancient Salamanca during the first millennium BC. The town of Cerro de San Vicente, corresponding to the Culture of Soto de Medinilla, and the pre-Roman castro located in the Teso de las Catedrales from the 4th century BC
3.- Main room
The posters show the evolution of the city and its walls from the medieval repopulation, in the twelfth century, to the Napoleonic fortifications of the early nineteenth century.
A large panel recreates how the pre-Roman castro could be when it was conquered by Hannibal in 220 BC. Episode related by the Greek historian Polybius who tells us: “... and the following summer, addressing again the vacceos, attacking her on the fly, he seized Helmantiké”. With this quote, the first written reference about our city, Salamanca entered history.
The main room has two interactive screens with the explanation of each area.
• The first screen offers three virtual tours: Old Salamanca, the Via de la Plata and the archaeological heritage on the banks of the Tormes.
• The second exposes, through photos and videos, the fortifications of the province: pre-Roman, medieval, modern and contemporary.
In this room are shown some archaeological remains (circular mill, ashlar and Roman inscriptions) and replicas of celtiberian ceramics.
4.- Garden of the Hotel Don Gregorio
The lattice door immediately below the Interpretation Centre gives access to the garden of the Don Gregorio hotel. From the inside of this you can see a well-preserved stretch of the outer face of Cerca Vieja. It is a stretch of 32 meters in length at the north end protrudes a quadrangular tower of about 5m. in length.