The New Cathedral was built between the 16th and 18th centuries in basically two styles: late Gothic and Baroque. Originally the plan was to raze the old church, but in the end it was kept open for worship while the new one was being built. When construction work was completed, it was decided to leave the old church standing.
While the facade of the Cathedral is its most beautiful feature (we recommend walking around it), it's worth going inside to see the magnificent Baroque cupola, which, at 80 metres tall, produces an impression of grandeur.
On the door known as Puerta de Ramos (in front of Anaya Palace), you can see the anachronistic figure of an astronaut sculpted on its left flank. For the Edades del Hombre (Ages of Man) exhibition in 1993, it was decided to renovate the "Puerta de Ramos", which time had left in very bad shape. During the renovation, following the tradition of incorporating a contemporary element into each restoration, the astronaut was carved in stone, in 1992, by the mason Miguel Romero. Recently, in September 2010, the right arm was broken off in act of vandalism.
Below the astronaut is a lynx, to its right a bull, and below the bull, a smiling dragon with scoops of ice cream (a reference to students). Further to the right, next to the door, are three figures: a river crab, a stork and a hare, which in Salamanca symbolize water, sky and land, respectively.
We recommend circling the Cathedral. If you choose to, you can enter the garden Huerto de Calisto y Melibea, though it's not really necessary.
