Escuelas Menores (Minor Schools), Salamanca

The Escuelas Menores (Minor Schools), is the building that housed the minor teachings (Bachelor's degree) of university studies.

The construction of this building began in 1428. The façade is very narrow and is located in a corner of the Patio de Escuelas, next to the Hospital del Estudio façade. The entrance is made up of two semicircular arches that rest on a column with a Corinthian capital. In its upper part, there is the imperial coat of arms of Carlos I. The building is organized around a one-story courtyard, whose mixtilinear arches recall those of the Casa de las Conchas; on them there is today a baroque balustrade.

It is currently used for dependencies of the University of Salamanca.

In one of the classrooms in the courtyard, the so-called "Cielo de Salamanca" is currently preserved, which is one third of an extraordinary mural painting attributed to Fernando Gallego that alludes to astronomical and astrological themes.

It dates from the end of the 15th century and was originally located in the vault of the old library (where the chapel is today) of the Escuelas Mayores building, a vault that partly collapsed and the remaining third was covered by that of the new chapel, and moved here after its discovery during construction in the mid-20th century.