Salamanca – College City

March 17th, 2008

Salamanca is situated in the Castile-Leon independent association in the south-western part, near the Portuguese line. The town is quite a big one (around 180000 people) but nevertheless, it saves the atmosphere of country style quietness. Salamanca citizens speak Spain In its purest form – Castille language – therefore Salamanca is very popular with learners of Spanish.

Pronouncing the word “Salamanca” takes you at once to the ancient world of Spanish noblesse at its golden times. The best representatives of the Spain literature like Cervantes, Lope de Vega or Calderon studied in the auditoriums of almost the oldest not saying most prominent European universities. In 1218 Alfonso IX founded the College of Salamanca and that year became significant. If we take a look at a bit earlier times, approximately year 1812, we may see that it was a little “capital” served for a Celtic population conquered by legendary Hannibal in the III century. The bridge hanging over the river called Tormes became the illustration to that and known as one of the places on the way of the Roman “Silver Way. In 1085, the Moors at last have gone away because of the Christians. Later the new inhabitants built their settlements here. Those were the times of appearance of a bulk of cathedrals and churches. Due to the building material of the golden-brown color that was used in the XIII century, Salamanca has a number of architectural monuments.

The Monastery of San Esteban is in line with those sights of the city. Churriguera - the altar of this church and its dimensions reproduce a marvelous view. The monastery was made in the XVI century according to the desire of great Dominican order. It was the last place visited by Christopher Columbus before his departure to America. The prominent traveler could obtain here the wanted support to organize the meeting with Queen Isabella. This construction is used as a place for Dominican theology studies.

Constructed in the XVII century, Jesuit College is situated on Compañía street. You may observe on this place now the Clergy and Pontifical University.
Casa de las Conchas palace was designed in the XV century due to the knighthood of the Santiago order. “Concha” being the symbol of the order may be understood from Spanish as “sea shell”. Thus the house may be called actually as “the shell building”.

Casa de los Muertos, translated as the building of the death was grounded in the XVI century. It is not surprising that nobody has lived here for a long period because its fame was like cursed one.

El Placa Mayor is recognized as the most beautiful squares in Europe.

With so many place of sightseeing that is obvious the Salamanca deserves to bear the title of cultural European capital got in 20002.

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