Casa de las Conchas

The Casa de las Conchas (House of shells) claims its uniqueness to the four winds that cross it. It brings a late Gothic style coupled with the renewed enthusiasm of the Renaissance but still keeps its Moorish feel. The Casa de las Conchas does not want to belong to anyone but the 300 shells that caress its facade.

It was born as Salamanca's historic centre, to form a unit, an art complex worthy of being considered a World Heritage Site. But in this wink that brings success, its shells grant it a relevance above the buildings that surround it, which makes it an object for the curious tourists and foreigners who smile in front of its facade.

At any time while walking, especially when one does not know what they are likely to find, various surprising buildings pop up from the numerous corners ... beautiful Salamanca.

In one of these moments I was struck this building, whose door, painted in red on stone, says “Biblioteca Pública" (Public library). Its exterior, covered by more than 300 scallop shells (I didn’t count them, eh! That’s what Wikipedia says) tells many stories and recalls of the pilgrim road to Santiago, which seemed to have little to do with Salamanca, until I found out (roughly) that: construction began around 1493, commissioned by Rodrigo Arias Maldonado, knight of the Santiago Order (hence the scallops shells) and ambassador of Isabel and Fenando (of whom one can see the five lily coat of arms over the door, and above that another for the Catholic Monarchs).

La casa de las conchas (the house of the shells) of Salamanca is an iconic building in the city located directly opposite the entrance of the Pontificia University, which now contains a library, the Tourist Information Office, and exhibitions of art and culture.

Of gothic style, building work began in 1493. It took 20 years to build. It was a palace for the nobility in the sixteenth century, commissioned by the Salamanca University chancellor, ve also ordered the construction of the cloister in the old cathedral.

It is decorated with shells of Santiago, as the rector was a knight of the Santiago Order. We can also see the family coat of arms with it lilies. Some say that the facade is covered with shells as a token of love to the owners’ wife.

But in the wall there are sea shells so it's a curious thing and if you go to Salamanca you should visit it, also it is in the centre so it's easy to find.