Built in the 15th century, this Renaissance palace was the town house of Talavera Maldonado who was a Knight of the Order of Santiago.
The most notable feature of the palace is the facade decorated with carvings of scallop shells, the symbol of medieval pilgrims traveling the Way of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela.
Over three hundred shells sculpted from sandstone adorn the outer walls of the building.
Depending on the time of day, the sunlight creates an interesting effect on the pattern of the facade. The building also has Mudejar architectural elements, typical of Isabelline art.
Notice the Gothic coat of arm on the entrance door and the intricate wrought-iron grilles on the windows.
Today, the mansion houses the Salamanca Public Library and an information office. Tourists may visit the inner courtyard of the building, which is a lovely two-story space.
