Salamanca Cathedral, the song of stones reaching for the sky

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A Song of Stone to the Sky

Last night, I gazed upon the cathedral beneath the Salamanca sky. The illuminated exterior walls shone even brighter than during the day, and the stone carvings, carved over centuries, seemed to breathe in the stillness of the night.

This grand cathedral is a building that represents not just one era, but two.

The Old Cathedral (Catedral Vieja), built in the 12th century,
and the New Cathedral (Catedral Nueva), completed in the 16th century,
stand shoulder to shoulder.

Therefore, walking along its exterior walls is like walking through a city's faith, aesthetics, and the passage of time.

Revisiting the cathedral during the day,
it glowed with even warmer colors in the sunlight. The intricately carved statues of saints, the ornate spires and patterns, and the countless details imbued with the stonemasons' care and patience—all this was a close-up. As you approach, each sculpture tells a story.

Their fingertips imbued both faith in God and confidence in the beauty of human creation.

The main entrance (Portada Principal) at the front is particularly majestic, like a massive stone curtain. Densely carved with images of saints, angels, and martyrs,
and at its center stands the figure of Jesus, raising his hand toward heaven.

Standing before this sculpture, the weight of centuries that have sustained this place is palpable.

Turning to the side of the cathedral,
the scale of the sculpture diminishes, but its intricacy becomes even more striking.

The texture of the stone, dimly dappled with shadow, resembles the brushstrokes of an ancient sacred painting.

The sunlight filtering through the carved stones makes time stand still for a moment.

At night, under the illumination, the cathedral takes on a new life.

The stone surface embraces light,
and the light slowly disperses into the sky. Gazing at this scene, I felt:

This cathedral is not simply a building; it is a symbol of centuries of faith, and a human reaching out to the heavens. It's called the Song of the Stone.

Tomorrow, I'll post a photo of the magnificent interior.
(2025.10.31)