MIRADOR DE LAS CLARAS

The Convent of Santa Clara is the oldest of the female monasteries preserved in the city. Its origin dates back to the first half of the 13th century when a group of noblewomen decided to unite in community to live ascetically and protect themselves when their husbands went to war. They settled in the hermitage of Santa María, giving rise to the 'beaterio' (house of beatas) of Dueñas de Santa María. Over the years, and thanks to privileges from popes and kings, it became the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara.

This convent has been home to the Poor Clares community for approximately eight hundred years. In 2019, the nuns left this place to settle in other monasteries of the order. It is an emblematic space, today converted into the Santa Clara Conventual Museum. It displays the great spiritual, artistic, and historical legacy that the convent has preserved over the centuries.

During the tour of the monastery, visitors can contemplate a large number of artworks that bring us closer to the life and spirituality of the community of Poor Clare nuns. The most notable features are the medieval paintings covering the walls of the lower choir, the cloister, the Baroque church, and the exceptional medieval coffered ceiling that was accidentally discovered above the church's Baroque vault. From the upper choir, one accesses the viewpoint, built between 1727 and 1728. From here, one can contemplate the Teso de las Catedrales, where the most relevant buildings of the historic city are located.

The visual tour we can take from the Mirador de Las Claras is truly exceptional. Many monuments can be seen from this tower, among which we highlight the following:

• CONVENT OF SAN ESTEBAN: This Dominican convent is one of the city's architectural gems. It combines late Gothic and Renaissance styles. Founded in the 13th century, it has been an important center for theological studies and evangelization. Its impressive Plateresque facade and cloister are some of its most outstanding features.
• NEW CATHEDRAL: Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, this cathedral combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Its impressive facade and interior decorated with magnificent altarpieces make it one of Salamanca's main symbols.
• TOWERS OF LA CLERECÍA: Originally built as the Royal College of the Society of Jesus, this imposing Baroque building was financed by Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III. Currently, it houses the Pontifical University of Salamanca. It offers the possibility of climbing its towers to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
• COLEGIO MAYOR DE ANAYA: This neoclassical building was the seat of the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. Its elegant facade and spacious inner courtyard make it one of the most representative examples of Salamanca's academic architecture.
• CHURCH OF SAN SEBASTIÁN: A temple of great historical and artistic value, whose dome is visible from various points in the city. It was built by Alberto de Churriguera as the chapel of the Colegio Mayor de Anaya.
• PALACIO DE LA SALINA: An elegant Renaissance palace noted for its exterior gallery and original courtyard. It has had various uses throughout history and currently houses the Provincial Council of Salamanca.
• PLAZA DE COLÓN: A landscaped space that adds freshness and beauty to the urban environment, framing some of Salamanca's most emblematic buildings. Overlooking this square are the palaces of Salina and Orellana, the Torreón de los Anaya, the Church of San Pablo, and the Torre del Clavero.
• CHURCH OF SAN MARTÍN: A late Romanesque temple that witnessed the transformation of the old San Martín Market into a wonderful Baroque Plaza Mayor..
• PLAZA MAYOR: Salamanca's Plaza Mayor was built in the 18th century by Alberto de Churriguera. Its harmonious design and arcades make it one of the most beautiful squares in Spain.

The Mirador de las Claras is part of the tour of the Convent of Santa Clara, so it is necessary to buy a ticket to visit it. It is accessed from the upper choir of the convent, via a metal staircase. The panoramic view contemplated from here is novel, surprising even for the people of Salamanca themselves.

The Convent of Las Claras is located on Cerro de San Cristóbal, in the eastern part of the city, separated from the Teso de las Catedrales by the deep valley formed by the Santo Domingo Stream, now channelled under Calle Gran Vía. From the tower, we have a very complete panoramic view of the city, with the bright blue sky as a backdrop, against which the silhouettes of the monuments stand out. The buildings seem to be within a painting, framed by the grid formed by the viewpoint's lattice.

Below our feet is the Plaza de San Román. A beautiful arcaded gallery stands out there, which once belonged to the courtyard of the Casa del Conde de Francos, which disappeared when Gran Vía was built. The patio was dismantled stone by stone and moved to the Colegio de las Siervas de San José. The agreement between Mayor Beltrán de Heredia and the Siervas de San José made it possible for the gallery to be brought outside.

If we follow the visual tour from left to right, we find, first of all, the Convent of San Esteban, belonging to the Dominican Fathers. Next, in the heart of the historic quarter, the imposing Cathedral rises. The New Cathedral dominates the historic city, which it seems to embrace and protect. To its right stand out the Towers of La Clerecía and the characteristic pavilions of the former Royal College of the Society of Jesus, currently the seat of the Pontifical University. In front of the Cathedral, the Colegio Mayor de Anaya and the dome of the Church of San Sebastián can be distinguished. A green strip reveals the space occupied by the Plaza de Colón, above which the galleries of the Palacio de la Salina protrude. Finally, at the far right, the Church of San Martín and the bell gable of the City Hall emerge, completing this view of great historical and architectural richness.