New Cathedral of Salamanca (Catedral Nueva)

The New Cathedral of Salamanca, the Catedral Nueva, stands beside the older cathedral and is one of the last great Gothic churches built in Europe. The city decided in the early sixteenth century to build a larger and grander cathedral, because the Romanesque church was small and dark. Work began in 1513 under the architect Juan Gil de Hontañón and went on for more than two centuries, with the building consecrated in 1733. Over that time, the style shifted from late Gothic to Renaissance and then Baroque, which is why the exterior and interior show elements of all three. The official name is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

The west front is a masterpiece of carved stone. The Puerta de Ramos, with its cascade of figures, arches and decoration in warm golden stone, is the focus of attention. Visitors enjoy spotting hidden details added during a restoration in the late twentieth century: a tiny astronaut and a dragon eating an ice cream cone are carved among the traditional figures, a sign that the craftsmen allowed themselves some humour. Finding them has become a ritual for visitors. The tower rises to more than a hundred metres and the dome, which is Baroque, dominates the skyline of the city from afar.

Inside, the space is vast and bright, with ribbed vaults, tall piers and many chapels. The choir, a Baroque work by Alberto Churriguera, is a notable carved ensemble, and the main altar and its decoration show the shift toward more ornate styles. Silverwork, sculpture and paintings fill the side chapels. The two cathedrals are connected, so you can walk from the new church into the old one and move through some six centuries of building.

The cathedral also offers access to the towers, where a guided route takes you through galleries, onto terraces and close to the carved stone from above, with views over the old town and the Tormes valley. The route is a highlight for many visitors, and it must be booked or timed, so check the arrangements on arrival.

The cathedral sits at the centre of Salamanca's old quarter, a few minutes from the University of Salamanca, the Casa de las Conchas and the Convento de San Esteban. It suits architecture and history lovers, and it is especially beautiful when the stone catches the evening light. Allow at least an hour and a half, more if you climb the towers.