Archbishop Fonseca´ s College

It was built in 1521 by the Archbishop Fonseca. It is also known as “Colegio de los Irlandeses” (Irish College), because it took in students and seminarists from that country. The building was designed by Juan de Álava, but later it suffers an important change by Diego de Siloe, who designs the façade that presents seven balconies crowned by a triangular gable with sculptures of St Agustín and San Ildefonso, next to Santiago´ s medallion in the battle of Clavijo, and the courtyard which is, without any type of doubt, one of the most beautiful of the Spanish Renaissance.

We should also highlight the chapel, with facade and nave by Álava; dome, transept and apse by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón and altarpiece by Alonso Berruguete, composed by paintings and sculptures.

Next to the college we can find the Hospice, a building that was originally aimed at accommodating the college “guests” who had finished their studies and were looking for a job. It is a baroque building with central courtyard and nowadays houses the Centro de Postgrado, Formación Continua and Actividades Culturales of the University of Salamanca.