Church of La Clerecía. Church of the Royal College of the Society of Jesus
The Church of the Royal College of the Society of Jesus, a majestic work that rises in the heart of Salamanca, is a testament to Baroque art in its most refined expression. Crossing its doors is to enter a world where art and spirituality intertwine to offer an experience that goes beyond the visual. Among its most precious treasures stands out the main altarpiece, a masterpiece conceived by Juan Fernández in 1673 and enriched with sculptures by Juan Rodríguez. This piece is not just a decorative element; it is a provocation to the senses, a call to contemplation, and a vehicle to transcend the earthly, in tune with the doctrine of the Society of Jesus.
The altarpiece of La Clerecía is a visual symphony that captures the gaze of everyone who enters the temple. The imposing dimensions and complexity of the details are of such magnitude that one can spend hours deciphering each element. Juan Fernández designed this structure not only as a background for the altar but as a portal that connects the divine with the human. The Solomonic columns intertwine with golden vignettes, creating an effect of movement that seems to invite the viewer to immerse themselves in the sacred narrative that unfolds before their eyes.
In contemplating this work, visitors are not mere spectators; they are participants in a spiritual experience that unites them through time and space with believers of past centuries. The altarpiece, in its grandiloquence, not only adorns the temple; it elevates souls towards the sublime, offering a space where the earthly and the celestial meet.
The structure of the altarpiece rises majestically with three streets marked by four Solomonic columns of imposing size, beautifully ornamented with grape clusters and distributed on three levels. In the first two, the presence of the Fathers of the Church is venerated in the lateral streets: Saint Gregory, Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine, and Saint Jerome; while in the central one stands out a grand monstrance that recalls the dome of the temple and a relief that narrates the episode of Pentecost. The upper level reveals a relief where Saint Ignatius, under the inspiration of the Virgin and in the august company of the Trinity, writes the Spiritual Exercises. This scenario is flanked by the heraldic emblems of Philip III and Margaret of Austria, as well as the sculptures of the four evangelists.
These figures not only adorn; they themselves are mute preachers of the faith that invites the observer to an internal dialogue about the divine and the human. It urges visitors to stop, look, and reflect. Each element, from the smallest golden leaf to the most imposing of figures, has been designed to take the viewer on a journey of introspection and admiration. The gilding that covers this altarpiece was completed in 1760, adding a glow that highlights the magnificence of the work.
The Church of La Clerecía, with its altarpiece, stands not only as a place of worship but as a bastion of art and spirituality. It is a vibrant testimony to how art can be a bridge between the tangible and the ethereal, and a reminder that beauty is a path to the transcendent. In contemplating this altarpiece, visitors find a refuge for the spirit and a provocation for the senses, inviting them to be part of a story that is much more than the sum of its parts.
HOURS
ACCESS VIA VITA IGNATII WITH GUIDED TOUR: Monday to Friday: 10:30 am to 12:45 pm and 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm | Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm to 7:15 pm | ACCESS VIA SCALA COELI: Every day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
ACCESS
Admission fee required
LOCATION
C/ Compañía, s/n. 37008
PLAN DE SOSTENIBILIDAD TURÍSTICA DE SALAMANCA