The new cathedral of Salamanca, Spain, was built between 1513 and 1733 preserving the old one. At first they thought to demolish it, although the criterion of keeping it open to the cult was imposed while the construction of the new one was realized. At the end of the works in the eighteenth century, they reconsidered the idea of destroying it and for that reason it is currently preserved. However, the southern wall of the New Cathedral rests on the north wall of the old one, which had to be reinforced into the old temple, whose lateral nave was partially reduced with the new construction. The tower of the new cathedral was built on the bell tower of the Old Cathedral.
The idea of building a new cathedral arises in the 15th century due to the demographic increase of the city, especially because of the strong attraction of the University. Therefore, the Old Cathedral seemed at that time "small, dark and low." They had the support of Fernando el Católico, who in 1509 ordered the architects who had worked in Toledo and Seville, Antón Egas and Alonso Rodríguez, to go to Salamanca to take trace of the new temple.