Last updated September 2022
If you’re looking for something different, fun and free to do in Salamanca then this is for you! There is a lot of street art in Salamanca, like most cities, but Barrio del Oeste (Salamanca’s Western zone) is the most interesting area to walk around. The art project started in 2013 when 25 young artists painted garages over the course of 3 days. Since then, the project has grown hugely and now if you walk around the area you will find many beautiful artworks on both garages and walls.
The area is advertised as Galería Urbana. Arte a pie de calle. Meaning: Urban Gallery. Art walking on the street. This sums up the fun project very well. It is best if you start in Plaza del Oeste (Western Square), this is a very colourful square that is less than 10 minutes walk away from Plaza Mayor. It is the heart of the project, from here you can find lots of beautiful works of art.
One of the best parts of the experience is that is is very hard to get lost, you just take one street, then another, end up back in the plaza and then choose another street. The area is interesting to walk around as it is very peaceful and has lots of little shops, bars and cafés. This is the area I lived in for the 3 weeks I was in Salamanca and I really loved it. So if you do get tired then you can take a little break in one of the cafés or bars. I picked up a guide to the area but there is no need for one, you just need to walk around with your eyes open. And as the project keeps growing, there are many, many more murals than those listed, far too many to photograph!
Of course, this isn’t the only place where you can find beautiful street art in Salamanca but it is the most concentrated area. Walking here is a lovely way to spend some free time, it is fun to spot the art and better still to choose favourites. It is really special to see how an area has encouraged such art and creativity and such large-scale works.
Enjoy your exploring! And let me know which mural is your favourite!
Also, I’d love to hear which city you think you can find the best street art in. Personally, the street art I saw in the city of Padua in Northern Italy is my favourite of all time! I will be writing on this one day for sure.
