Salamanca is a smaller size...
by Eberhard
Salamanca is a smaller size city about 200 KM Northwest of Madrid. While the city existed already since some time, its real history is related to the foundations of its University in 1218. Endless is the list of personalities of Spanish culture who have studied there. Just to name: Fray Luis de Leon, Francisco de Vitoria and Salinas. The 16th century was the golden age of the University and for the city. Due to the development of the University the city also gained on importance and many other buildings of this epoch had been constructed. The sandstone from this area has a typical golden shade, which is especially impressive at sundown. In 1988 the United Nations recognized Salamanca as World Heritage of Humanity.
You absolutely must
Walk through the city; enjoy the old buildings and the atmosphere. And you must sit on the beautiful Plaza Mayor and have a glass of Spanish red wine. Visit the Old and New Cathedral and the University
If you would like to see some more pictures, please visit the Travellogue related to this page!!!! My fondest memory is the evenings. Dinner starts normally between 21.00h and 22.00 hours. That means that at about 23.00hours it is time to go out, meet friends on the streets, and in the bars. The city is full of live at least until 01.00h in the morning. There are many young people, students, from all over the world; most of them came to learn the Spanish language.
Music/dancing in public places
by fairy_dust
Sometimes on special occasions (like for a wedding), you'll see people playing local music and dancing. They do this at night too, in the Plaza Mayor. There'll be one guy playing a flute and drum at the same time, and people doing a little dance. Sometimes they wear traditional costumes from that region.
nightclub drink discounts and freebies
by fairy_dust about many have this
Many nightclubs have drink specials and freebies. Often, there will be people on the street giving out cards for "buy 2 drinks, get one free" or "buy this drink and get a free hat" and things like that. Just take a card from them, bring it to the right bar, and show it when you buy your drink.
But sometimes, there's a catch. Usually, you can only buy a certain kind of drink with these cards (usually a cooler, but it depends on the bar) and sometimes the drinks are expensive to begin with.
At a bar called Garamond, they also sell cute t-shirts. I bought one that says "Good girls go to Heaven, bad girls go to Garamond" in Spanish. Those usually cost around 6 Euros.
Casa de las Conchas
by Aitana
The façade of this house is decorated with stone shells.
The construction of the house began in 1493. The house was built in gothic style, ordered by a Knight of the Order of Saint James of Compostela.
Today it belongs to the State and houses a public library.
Universidad (University)
by wanderlust23
After leaving the steps of the Cathedral, we head across to the University. This university, the second oldest in the world, is quite impressive. Made of the same golden stone as the Cathedral, the University has unique markings in red on many of the edifices. The markings, we are told, are ancient graffiti that was commissioned to reference the academic achievements of some of the important figures of the university. Housing the Minorite schools and the Salamanca Museum, the University is an important stop on the tour.
After searching for the Astronaut at the Cathedral, we are up to the challenge to look for a frog that is perched on one of the three skulls carved into the façade of the University. After some time, we need to ask for help in locating the pesky amphibian due to the complexity and number of the carvings.
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Near the cathedral
Me with the nicest tuno man
Snow covered cathedral
Convento de San Esteban (Salamanca, Spain)
