THE CELESTINA VIEWPOINT
30 minutes
Located in the heart of Salamanca's old town, behind the Cathedral and a few steps from Patio Chico, the Calixto and Melibea's Garden (Huerto de Calixto y Melibea) is a municipal garden of approximately 2,500 square meters. Its name recalls the protagonists of La Celestina, Fernando de Rojas' immortal work, as local tradition places the setting of the romantic encounter between Calixto and Melibea in this spot.
The Garden offers stunning views of Salamanca Cathedral, which has earned it a prominent place on the city's Viewpoints Route. The lush vegetation surrounding it makes it an ideal place to stroll, read, or simply be captivated by the magical atmosphere evoked by the literary work.
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The Garden offers stunning views of Salamanca Cathedral, which has earned it a prominent place on the city's Viewpoints Route. The lush vegetation surrounding it makes it an ideal place to stroll, read, or simply be captivated by the magical atmosphere evoked by the literary work.
Free visit price
- Individual - 0.00 €
High on the ancient wall and behind Salamanca Cathedral, lies the Calixto and Melibea's Garden (Huerto de Calixto y Melibea), a corner where history, literature, and nature intertwine. This garden owes its name to the protagonists of La Celestina, the celebrated work by Fernando de Rojas, a student at the University of Salamanca in the 15th century.
The city preserves two enclaves linked to this literary work: the Peña Celestina, to the west of the Teso de las Catedrales, where tradition says the old matchmaker lived, and this garden, where since time immemorial it has been believed that Melibea's father's palace stood, whose garden was the scene of the young protagonists' romantic encounters.
Access to the Calixto and Melibea's Garden is from Patio Chico, through the quiet Calle del Arcediano. This street leads us to an old stone wall, where a semicircular arch door opens, featuring the coats of arms of Alonso de Paradinas, Archdeacon of Ledesma and Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo. Alonso de Paradinas was a student at the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé or de Anaya; there he copied the copy of the Libro del Buen Amor (Book of Good Love) that is preserved in the University's Historical Library. Today, apart from the emblazoned gate, the well, and a cistern, little remains of the palace that once stood here, but it is not difficult to imagine a late-medieval palace with its lofty tower dominating the city.
In 1981, it was acquired by the City Council, which, after careful intervention, transformed it into a public garden. The renovation combined existing elements with new ones to turn it into a flower garden with romantic connotations. The garden was expanded in 1992 when the city council acquired the adjoining plot, known as the Vizier's Garden (Jardín del Visir) after the owner's nickname. The extensive plot extending from the gate to the medieval wall, in the section between Casa de Lis and Puerta de San Polo, is now occupied by a lush garden whose viewpoint is the medieval wall's albarrana, with incredible views of the Convent of San Esteban and the Cathedral.
The city preserves two enclaves linked to this literary work: the Peña Celestina, to the west of the Teso de las Catedrales, where tradition says the old matchmaker lived, and this garden, where since time immemorial it has been believed that Melibea's father's palace stood, whose garden was the scene of the young protagonists' romantic encounters.
Access to the Calixto and Melibea's Garden is from Patio Chico, through the quiet Calle del Arcediano. This street leads us to an old stone wall, where a semicircular arch door opens, featuring the coats of arms of Alonso de Paradinas, Archdeacon of Ledesma and Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo. Alonso de Paradinas was a student at the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé or de Anaya; there he copied the copy of the Libro del Buen Amor (Book of Good Love) that is preserved in the University's Historical Library. Today, apart from the emblazoned gate, the well, and a cistern, little remains of the palace that once stood here, but it is not difficult to imagine a late-medieval palace with its lofty tower dominating the city.
In 1981, it was acquired by the City Council, which, after careful intervention, transformed it into a public garden. The renovation combined existing elements with new ones to turn it into a flower garden with romantic connotations. The garden was expanded in 1992 when the city council acquired the adjoining plot, known as the Vizier's Garden (Jardín del Visir) after the owner's nickname. The extensive plot extending from the gate to the medieval wall, in the section between Casa de Lis and Puerta de San Polo, is now occupied by a lush garden whose viewpoint is the medieval wall's albarrana, with incredible views of the Convent of San Esteban and the Cathedral.
This space offers us the possibility to contemplate the city from multiple perspectives:
1.- FROM PLAZA DE LOS LEONES
Before entering the Calixto and Melibea's Garden, we will stand in the Plaza de los Leones. We find ourselves in a privileged place to contemplate the cathedral complex. From here we see the Patio Chico, with the Romanesque apse and the Rooster Tower (Torre del Gallo) of the Old Cathedral; behind it rises the majestic Bell Tower (Torre Campanario), the second tallest in Spain, only surpassed by the Giralda, and to our right, the New Cathedral with its imposing dome. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical styles are displayed before our eyes.
2.- FROM THE WALL VIEWPOINT
After crossing the Garden, we reach a viewpoint situated on the ancient wall. From this height, a privileged view of the surroundings is revealed to us. We are standing on the Cerca Vieja, Salamanca's first medieval wall, built in the first half of the 12th century. Below our feet emerges another wall that extends eastward: it is the beginning of the Cerca Nueva, the second wall built in the Middle Ages. Here was located the Puerta de San Pablo (Saint Paul's Gate), one of the thirteen gates the wall had, of which no remains have survived.
On the other side of Calle de San Pablo are La Casa de los Niños del Coro and Hotel San Polo. This hotel has a surprising terrace, the ruins of the Romanesque-Mudéjar Church of San Polo which have been integrated into the hotel. The foundations of the triple semicircular apse and part of the walls of that church are still preserved. Behind the hotel stands out the modern tower of the Convent of the Calced Carmelites and its church of Carmen de Abajo, the only vestige remaining of what was once the Convent of the Carmelites of San Andrés, which came to be known as the Salamancan Escorial. Very close by, in front of the Santo Domingo gardens, a bronze sculpture representing Saint John of the Cross, a work by the sculptor Fernando Mayoral, can be seen.
To the northeast rises the Convent of the Dominicans, with the monumental and impressive Convent of San Esteban standing out from the complex. From this point, it is easy to appreciate the large area of land occupied by the old convents. Today, the convent has very diverse uses: one part is still a convent, another houses the Hotel Palacio de San Esteban, and in the southern area are the Exhibition Hall and the Santo Domingo Gardens, where a selection of bronze sculptures by the Salamancan artist Venancio Blanco are exhibited, whose work dialogues with the surroundings, uniting tradition and modernity.
To the north we have incredible views of the dome of the New Cathedral and the Bell Tower.
3.- FROM THE VIZIER'S GARDEN
Thanks to the less dense vegetation, this spot offers an unobstructed view of the New Cathedral's dome and the Bell Tower. The selfie point has been installed right here, a perfect place to capture a self-portrait with this exceptional backdrop.
From the Vizier's Garden viewpoint, located on a wall tower, the striking stained-glass windows of Casa Lis can be seen.
1.- FROM PLAZA DE LOS LEONES
Before entering the Calixto and Melibea's Garden, we will stand in the Plaza de los Leones. We find ourselves in a privileged place to contemplate the cathedral complex. From here we see the Patio Chico, with the Romanesque apse and the Rooster Tower (Torre del Gallo) of the Old Cathedral; behind it rises the majestic Bell Tower (Torre Campanario), the second tallest in Spain, only surpassed by the Giralda, and to our right, the New Cathedral with its imposing dome. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical styles are displayed before our eyes.
2.- FROM THE WALL VIEWPOINT
After crossing the Garden, we reach a viewpoint situated on the ancient wall. From this height, a privileged view of the surroundings is revealed to us. We are standing on the Cerca Vieja, Salamanca's first medieval wall, built in the first half of the 12th century. Below our feet emerges another wall that extends eastward: it is the beginning of the Cerca Nueva, the second wall built in the Middle Ages. Here was located the Puerta de San Pablo (Saint Paul's Gate), one of the thirteen gates the wall had, of which no remains have survived.
On the other side of Calle de San Pablo are La Casa de los Niños del Coro and Hotel San Polo. This hotel has a surprising terrace, the ruins of the Romanesque-Mudéjar Church of San Polo which have been integrated into the hotel. The foundations of the triple semicircular apse and part of the walls of that church are still preserved. Behind the hotel stands out the modern tower of the Convent of the Calced Carmelites and its church of Carmen de Abajo, the only vestige remaining of what was once the Convent of the Carmelites of San Andrés, which came to be known as the Salamancan Escorial. Very close by, in front of the Santo Domingo gardens, a bronze sculpture representing Saint John of the Cross, a work by the sculptor Fernando Mayoral, can be seen.
To the northeast rises the Convent of the Dominicans, with the monumental and impressive Convent of San Esteban standing out from the complex. From this point, it is easy to appreciate the large area of land occupied by the old convents. Today, the convent has very diverse uses: one part is still a convent, another houses the Hotel Palacio de San Esteban, and in the southern area are the Exhibition Hall and the Santo Domingo Gardens, where a selection of bronze sculptures by the Salamancan artist Venancio Blanco are exhibited, whose work dialogues with the surroundings, uniting tradition and modernity.
To the north we have incredible views of the dome of the New Cathedral and the Bell Tower.
3.- FROM THE VIZIER'S GARDEN
Thanks to the less dense vegetation, this spot offers an unobstructed view of the New Cathedral's dome and the Bell Tower. The selfie point has been installed right here, a perfect place to capture a self-portrait with this exceptional backdrop.
From the Vizier's Garden viewpoint, located on a wall tower, the striking stained-glass windows of Casa Lis can be seen.