EPISCOPAL PALACE
1 hourFree visit price
- Individual - 10.00 €
The current Episcopal Palace occupies the site of the primitive bishop's residence, whose origins dated back to the 14th century, although it had undergone numerous reforms over the centuries. Faced with the threat of imminent ruin at the end of the 19th century, it was decided to demolish it and replace it with a new building. Father Cámara commissioned the project to the diocesan architect José Secall y Asión. The old palace was demolished in 1887, and the works on the new building lasted until 1889, being inaugurated the following year.
An interesting fact about the Episcopal Palace is that during the Civil War, it served as Francisco Franco's residence and headquarters, and a bunker was built in the garden at that time. After the war, it again became the residence of the bishops of Salamanca until 1964. In the 1980s, it came under the responsibility of the City Council, which installed the City History Museum there. It was almost two decades until it returned to the hands of the Diocese of Salamanca, which has now designated it as a museum. After a profound renovation, it reopened its doors in 2023 as the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art. This museum, whose visit is linked to that of the Cathedral, features a permanent exhibition of pieces from parishes, private collections, and the Diocese itself.
For decades, the building served as the headquarters for the Diocesan Museum and Archive. After extensive renovation, in 2023 it reopened its doors under a new name: Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art.
The Episcopal Palace boasts an exhibition area of 700 square meters, distributed across the basement, ground floor, and first floor. The first two floors house the permanent collections, comprising works from the diocesan heritage, various parishes, and temporary loans from private collectors. The basement, meanwhile, has been reserved for workshops and temporary exhibitions.
In total, visitors can enjoy 160 pieces of art —45 located on the ground floor and 115 on the first floor— including notable works by renowned artists such as Fernando Gallego, Maestro Bartolomé, Alonso de Berruguete, Luis de Morales, Venancio Blanco, and José Luis Núñez Solé.
This level is dedicated to one of the most fertile periods of painting in Salamanca, the last quarter of the 15th century, with special attention to the celebrated painter Fernando Gallego. The Episcopal Palace houses three works attributed to the master, accompanied by pieces from his workshop and from artists who collaborated with him, such as Maestro Bartolomé and Pedro Bello.
INTERPRETATION OF THE ASTROLOGICAL VAULT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA
As part of the permanent exhibition dedicated to Fernando Gallego, a recreation of the celestial vault of the University of Salamanca is presented. Through panels located on the side walls, the mythological figures appearing in the Sky of Salamanca are explained, representing planets, constellations, zodiac signs, and winds.
FIRST FLOOR: “ADMIRABLE MYSTERY”
Under this title, a visual journey is structured that narrates the Christian faith, from the prophets to Easter. The iconographic selection includes works created between the 13th and 21st centuries, with pieces by Alonso de Berruguete, from the circle of Juan de Juni, by the Master of the Anayas, Alejandro Carnicero, and others.
BASEMENT: TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS
This underground space is incorporated into the project with a dual function: to host temporary exhibitions and to serve as a venue for creative workshops.
IMMERSIVE ROOM: "The Cathedral as you've never seen it before"
With this motto, the cathedral complex offers its visitors a unique virtual reality experience. Thanks to VR glasses, unseen panoramic views and inaccessible spaces, such as the dome, can be discovered. Additionally, an audiovisual guide leads the visitor through the historical construction process of the Cathedral.