This is a program which is always organized by the department of tourism of the townhall. This program is always during the months of November and December. A perfect excuse for the people of this beautiful town, to get to know its monuments and some curious stories about them.
Places I visited during these days are:
The Archbishop Fonseca palace.
The church of La Purisima
This church was founded by the 6th count of Monterrey, don Manuel Alonso de Zúñiga Acevedo y Fonseca. He was Commander in the Order of Santiago, Constable of Castile, President of the Council of Italy, member of the Council of State of King Felipe IV, Ambassador to the Holy See and culminated his career with his appointment as Viceroy of Naples. Here goes nothing.
During his stay in Naples he survived the eruption of the vulcan Vesuvius. At that point he wanted to have his tomb ready as soon as posible. He started the construction of this church in 1639. The 6th count of Monterrey died in 1654 so his son continued the work. The praying statues, in white marble, were made by the Genoese Giuliano Finelli, whom Monterrey had met during his period as ambassador in Rome while working in the Bernini workshop.
If you look at the architectural style of the church you will see a great Italian influence. The marble which is at the entrance and the interior of the church is from Italy and the design is made by Bartolomeo Picchiatti.
Please pay special attention to the high alter. With a painting from Jose Ribera of the Inmaculada Concepción. At the side of this painting we see more paintings, the one, down right is of influence of the school of Pieter Paul Rubens.
No a days we can visit also the part of the choir and get a beautiful perspective of this church.
Another renaissance gem to visit here in Salamanca.
The visit I had was with the theater group “La Colleja” which made this visit a real treasure.