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Anaya Tower

Tower-shaped building in the historic centre of Salamanca, near Plaza de Colón, also known as the Torre de Abrantes. It is part of a palace once inhabited by the Anaya and Bazán families and should not be confused with the Palacio de Anaya in Plaza de Anaya. After Charles I's victory in the War of the Communities, the tower was truncated and lost its crown. In the mid-20th century it was restored and a viewing platform was added, which was later removed; in 1974 a plan to raise it with modern materials caused public opposition, and in 1976 Manuel Rodríguez Monís restored it again with Villamayor stone, which is what can be seen today. In the 20th century it housed the Inter-University Institute for Ibero-American and Portuguese Studies and the Oriental Museum of Salamanca. Today it works as a cultural centre, with theatre, music, talks, courses, exhibitions, a library and a play centre. On Calle de Jesús there is a surviving twin-arched window with the same coats of arms as the Orellana Palace.

Things to do at Anaya Tower: 3 missions

• Look at the truncated tower and its Villamayor stoneLook at the tower from the street and notice how it ends at the top, without its original crown, and the colour of the Villamayor stone from the 1976 restoration.
• Peek into the tower's cultural centreCheck the cultural centre's programme (exhibitions, music, theatre) at the entrance and go in if there is an activity open.
• Find the twin-arched window on Calle de JesúsWalk along Calle de Jesús beside the building and find the twin-arched window with coats of arms, the same ones carried by the Orellana Palace.

Near Anaya Tower

Source: Wikipedia - Torre de los Anaya