Salina Palace

With its ornate railings and detailed façade, the Palacio de la Salina is one of Salamanca’s finest architectural treasures. Commissioned in 1538 by Don Rodrigo de Messía, it wasn’t built as a residence, but as a salt warehouse — explaining the name “Salina” and its open design that faces onto the street, unlike a traditional private home. Its striking Plateresque style is especially impressive in its rich decorative features. Just look at the four sculpted medallions — you might spot the faces of Cleopatra, the Roman consul Mark Antony, or the Greek poetess Sappho, among others. The artistry continues inside, with a stunning courtyard framed by elegant arches and capitals, where carved figures stare down with intense, even tormented expressions. According to legend, these unsettling faces are grotesque caricatures of the local nobles who once refused shelter to Archbishop Alonso Fonseca and his mistress during a visit to the city — proof that revenge can be eternal when carved in stone. The salt is now long gone, and the secrets have faded. Today, the Palacio de la Salina serves as the seat of the Provincial Council of Salamanca, a role it has held since 1884.