Salamanca

Salamanca, one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful university cities, sits just outside the southern edge of the path of totality. While you won't experience the total eclipse here, the 99.5% partial eclipse will still be a dramatic event, and the city's golden sandstone architecture provides a stunning backdrop. For totality, you'll need to travel north to Zamora or the León area.

Reaching Totality from Salamanca

To see the total eclipse, you'll need to travel north:

• Zamora (~20 seconds of totality): About 65 km north (45 minutes by car). Right on the very edge of the path — totality is extremely brief here.
• León (~1m 45s of totality): About 200 km north (2 hours by car). León sits on the centerline and offers some of the longest totality in Spain. The Asociación Leonesa de Astronomía is organizing public viewing events.
• Valladolid (~1m 28s of totality): About 115 km northeast (1h 15m by car). Well within the path with good duration.

Watching the Partial Eclipse in Salamanca

Plaza Mayor

Widely considered Spain's most beautiful main square, Salamanca's Plaza Mayor is an enclosed baroque masterpiece. The square will be the natural gathering point for eclipse viewers. The atmosphere of thousands watching together in this stunning setting will be memorable even without totality.

Roman Bridge (Puente Romano)

The ancient Roman bridge over the Tormes River offers open views toward the west and northwest. From the bridge or the opposite riverbank, you'll have the old city skyline — the two cathedrals and the university — as a breathtaking foreground.

Surrounding Countryside

The Meseta Central around Salamanca is characterized by vast open plains with unobstructed 360-degree horizons. Even for a partial eclipse, the wide-open landscape adds to the experience.

Beyond the Eclipse

• University of Salamanca: Founded in 1218, with a famous ornate Plateresque facade. Try to find the hidden frog carved into the stonework.
• Two Cathedrals: The Romanesque Catedral Vieja (12th century) and the Gothic-Renaissance Catedral Nueva (16th century) stand side by side.
• Casa de las Conchas: A 15th-century palace covered in carved scallop shells.
• Cuisine: Hornazo (meat-filled pastry), chanfaina (rice stew), local lentils, and Ibérico ham from the nearby Sierra de Francia.

Practical Information

Getting there: About 2.5 hours from Madrid by car or bus. The Renfe Alvia train takes about 1h 35m from Chamartín station. The nearest major airport is Madrid-Barajas.

Accommodation: Good range of hotels and guesthouses. Consider staying here and driving north to the path of totality on eclipse day.

Transport to totality: Car rental is the most flexible option. Zamora is 45 minutes, Valladolid is 1h 15m, León is 2 hours.

Explore Nearby (In the Path of Totality)

View Eclipse Path on Map Eclipse Events