Colegio Mayor Arzobispo Fonseca (Archbishop Fonseca College), Salamanca

Founded in 1519 by Alonso de Fonseca, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, the Archbishop Fonseca College was created to provide Galician students a dignified place to live and study within the esteemed University of Salamanca.

Architecturally, the college is one of the earliest Renaissance buildings in Salamanca, and famously, it remains the only surviving example of the city’s original four colleges mayor-the rest have vanished over time. Designed by some of the most prominent architects of 16th-century Spain-including Diego de Siloé, Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, and Juan de Álava-the building is centered around a two-story cloister, showcasing the period’s elegant symmetry, classical arches, and refined proportions.

Its main façade, while modest overall, features exquisite decoration concentrated on the ornate entrance portal, including sculptural representations of Saint James in the Battle of Clavijo, elevated by a richly detailed frame. Inside, the chapel stands out with its Gothic-inspired square-crossing vault and a stunning altarpiece carved by Alonso Berruguete, whose polychrome work brings exceptional artistry to the devotional space.

The building's history later layers in cultural shifts and changing functions. Following reforms under King Charles III in the late 18th century, the college ceased operations in 1780. It then served various roles-including as a general hospital and, later, as the Irish College when displaced Irish seminarians occupied the premises from 1838 to 1936, leading to its enduring nickname “College of the Irish”.

Today, it continues as an active university postgraduate residence. During the summer, its picturesque courtyard transforms into an intimate stage for concerts and theatrical performances under the celebrated program "Las Noches del Fonseca", translated as “Fonseca Nights”, ensuring that this Renaissance relic remains alive with youthful spirit and communal celebration.