ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF SAN VICENTE HILL

The Cerro de San Vicente is an exceptional enclave for understanding the origins of Salamanca and the historical evolution of the territory. Its discovery in 1949, during the construction works of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe University College, marked the beginning of a long trajectory of archaeological investigations that continues to this day. Systematic excavations undertaken in 1990 confirmed the existence of a settlement from the First Iron Age associated with the Soto de Medinilla culture, which placed the hill on the map of key sites in the middle Duero valley. The approval of the Special Plan for Cerro de San Vicente in 1997 was a decisive milestone: it allowed the site to be protected, the land on which the site is located to be acquired, the old college that occupied the top of the hill to be demolished, and archaeological campaigns to continue. Added to this was the execution of the Project for the Protection Works of the Remains of the Plant of the Old Convent of San Vicente, which involved the construction of a museographic space over the remains of the Benedictine convent, reinforcing the informative vocation of the project, which today includes guided tours and a renovated interpretation center.

The protohistoric settlement, occupied between the 8th and 4th centuries BC, was located at a strategic point on the Tormes, dominating a river ford and controlling a wide territory. Its position in the natural corridor connecting the Iberian Peninsula's south with the Northern Plateau —the future Vía de la Plata— favored economic and cultural exchanges from very early times. The settlement, covering about two hectares and with around 250 inhabitants at its peak development, was protected by a natural escarpment and a defensive wall in its most vulnerable sector. Excavations have brought to light circular dwellings built with adobe and organized around a street, along with auxiliary structures for food and tool storage. The superposition of constructions and the depth of the archaeological strata reflect a stable and prolonged occupation throughout the approximately four hundred years of the settlement's life.

The economy of the people of Soto combined agriculture, livestock, and gathering, complemented by hunting. The presence of hand mills, granaries, and faunal remains evidences intense productive activity. The material culture shows remarkable artisanal development, especially in pottery and bronze metallurgy, along with textile work and the elaboration of bone and stone tools.

In recent years, excavations have revealed exceptional findings that demonstrate contacts with the Eastern Mediterranean, such as Phoenician and Egyptian ceramics, among which are cult objects made of faience, like a small idol likely representing a goddess. These materials, along with the presence of a large rectangular structure interpreted as a possible ritual space, suggest that relations with Eastern peoples were deeper than a simple commercial exchange. It is possible that some people —perhaps women— settled in the village and transmitted cultural and religious elements to the local community. Towards the 4th century BC, demographic growth led to the relocation of the population to the nearby Teso de las Catedrales, where the castro de Salmantica emerged, the origin of the historic city.

After a long period of abandonment, the hill was reoccupied in the Middle Ages. Although the origins of the San Vicente monastery are not entirely clear, it is known to have existed before 1143, when Alfonso VII donated it to the Cluniac order. In the 16th century, under the Catholic Monarchs, the convent was incorporated into the Reformed Benedictine Order and transformed into a university college, which led to a profound reconstruction resulting in a monumental complex of great architectural value. However, the Peninsular War led to its ruin: the French fortified it, and during the Siege of Salamanca in 1812, it was virtually destroyed. After the disentailment of 1835, the hill became a humble neighborhood whose inhabitants reused the remains of the convent.

The rediscovery of the prehistoric settlement in 1949 and the recovery project initiated in the 1990s have allowed the hill to be transformed into an archaeological park and a key space for the historical interpretation of Salamanca. In 2025, the renovated Interpretation Center was inaugurated, and work began on the musealization of the protohistoric remains and the Napoleonic defenses, consolidating the hill as a place where historical-archaeological research and cultural dissemination converge.

The tour of the San Vicente Hill Archaeological Park is divided into three main areas:

• The remains of the prehistoric settlement, located at the top of the hill.

• The visit to the Interpretation Center of the disappeared Salamanca, which occupies the modern building constructed in 2001 on what was the cloister of the Convent of San Vicente.

• The slopes of the hill, now transformed into an archaeobotanical park.

TOUR The tour of the San Vicente Hill Archaeological Park is divided into three main areas: the remains of the prehistoric settlement, located at the top of the hill; the view of the Interpretation Center of the disappeared Salamanca, which occupies the modern building constructed in 2001 over what was the cloister of the Convent of San Vicente; and the slopes of the hill, now transformed into an archaeobotanical park. REMAINS OF THE PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT To date, the remains of the First Iron Age settlement have been revealed through guided tours. These tours offer the public a detailed insight into the lifestyle of the communities that inhabited the hill between the 8th and 4th centuries BC. During the tour, the techniques and materials used in the construction of the dwellings and annex structures are explained. It is also shown how, through the materials recovered from the excavations, archaeology, aided by other auxiliary sciences, allows for the reconstruction of fundamental aspects of that society: its economy, technology, trade relations, and even its beliefs. All of this helps us better understand the lives of those who occupied the Cerro de San Vicente for approximately four centuries. Inside the building that protects the archaeological remains, a walkway situated over a transit area of the settlement allows for the visualization of the excavated space for the public exhibition of the remains: The area excavation carried out in 2005 uncovered three main dwellings, a large rectangular structure, and about a dozen annex structures, organized around a street. The houses have a circular plan, built with adobes, with diameters between 4 and 7 meters. Inside, all shared common elements: a central post that supported the roof, a hearth for cooking and heating, and a continuous adobe bench attached to the interior wall that served as a base, seat, and bed. The rectangular structure has recently been interpreted as a possible sanctuary and the surrounding space as a ritual area. These dwellings were inhabited by family units, and around them were other dependencies interpreted as storage or work spaces. The superposition of adobe constructions detected in the excavations indicates that it was a stable settlement occupied for several centuries, which is explained by the successful agricultural and livestock exploitation of the surrounding areas. Through material culture, reflections are made on the economy, way of life, trade relations, and beliefs of the inhabitants of the hill during the First Iron Age. VIEWPOINTS On the edges of the hill's upper platform, three spaces have been conditioned as viewpoints, from which exceptional panoramic views of the Teso de las Catedrales, the Tormes river plain, and the extensive territories extending to the south and west of the city can be obtained. Each of these viewpoints has a panel with its corresponding legend that helps identify the architectural landmarks and natural spaces that stretch before us. SLOPES OF CERRO DE SAN VICENTE Within the framework of the Master Plan for Cerro de San Vicente, excavations and landscaping work were also carried out on the hill's slopes, now converted into a municipal park with abundant native vegetation. During the tour through this green space, elements of ethnographic interest can be observed, such as a waterwheel, irrigation and sewage systems, terraces, and ancient cobbled paths, all identified by panels with the corresponding explanation. INTERPRETATION CENTER ON THE DISAPPEARED SALAMANCA “Invisible Salamanca” The museum building was constructed in 2001 over the preserved remains of the cloister of the Convent of San Vicente. The works, carried out by architects Juan Vicente, Pablo Núñez, and Pablo Redero and promoted by the Illustrious City Council of Salamanca, were awarded the National Prize for Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage "World Heritage Cities" in 2002. The building utilizes the preserved walls of the cloister of the San Vicente monastery and recreates the original volumes in the new construction. The property itself becomes an essential part of the exhibition: cellars, floors, walls, and other original elements of the convent serve as a framework for the content developed in the exhibition. The museum's floor plan is developed in an "L" shape around the cloister space, coinciding with two of the monastery's original galleries. A series of walkways and platforms facilitate the tour through its interior. The tour through the interior of the museum is organized into the following stages:

1. Visualization of the audiovisual explaining the importance of Cerro de San Vicente for understanding the origins of the city.
2. Reflection on the "invisible city," the disappeared city still latent in archaeological remains and collective memory.
3. During the tour of the west gallery, we can see: • A timeline from geological times to the present day. • Exhibition of historical maps and plans showing the transformations of Salamanca's historic center from the 18th to the 20th century. • The mythical panoramic view of the city made in 1570 by Antón van den Wyngaerde. • A screen with an attractive audiovisual proposal that tells, through plans and audios, the evolution of Salamanca from its origins.
4. In the south gallery, the magnificent pavement of the convent's Chapter House is preserved in situ, crafted with quartzite pebbles forming elegant geometric designs. This space explains the history of the Benedictine monastery of San Vicente and delves into the archaeological remains found on the site, highlighting the importance that convents had in the religious and urban life of Salamanca. It also shows how, after the destruction of the convent during the Peninsular War (Guerra de la Independencia), its ruins were reused by families who colonized the hill in the second half of the 19th century, transforming it into one of the city's humblest neighborhoods, known as the Barrio de San Vicente y los Milagros. 5.- Inside a room, a series of objects are displayed that strongly attract visitors' attention: Wellington's briefcase and the model of the City Hall designed by Andrés García de Quiñones in the 18th century. A diorama with projections on a model recounts the development of the Battle of Los Arapiles. 6.- The cellars: in one of the cellars, the prehistory of Salamanca is shown, emphasizing the Soto de Medinilla site located on the hill. An audiovisual projects geometric designs onto the walls.
5. On the upper floor, we find information about the Battle of Los Arapiles, the Desamortización (Ecclesiastical Confiscation), and the subsequent growth and urban development of Salamanca during the 19th and 20th centuries.
6. In the viewpoint area, display cases with reproductions of weapons used during the Peninsular War are shown. The tour concludes by observing from this privileged space how the San Vicente neighborhood has transformed since the late 20th century.