| Salamanca, Information on Salamanca Castile-Leon, Spain, Europe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salamanca Salamanca is a moderately sized but incredibly beautiful city in western Spain. It is said that the people of Salamanca speak the purest form of Spanish & so it has become a centre for the teaching of the Spanish language. Indeed the city has always been prized for (& shaped by) it's university, one of the three best in Spain & with a long history; dating back as far as 1218. It 2002 Salamanca won the award for European city of Culture, as well as being declared a UNESCO world heritage site. It offers visitors a very authentic experience, with great efforts made to preserve it's architectural heritage, most of which is made from a yellow colored sand stone. There are also extensive pedestrianised areas. Modern amenities have been added, such as it's train station, many art galleries & museums, however care has been taken to locate these additions away from its historic centre. There are of course a multitude of cafes, bars, & entertainment venues present to entertain the large student populace. But again they are either in keeping with their surroundings or away from the town centre. Part of Salamanca's success in retaining much of it's tradition & heritage has to do with its relative inaccessibility. To date there are no direct international flights to its airport, & though a large international community exists, people come here to live, to integrate, & to absorb, rather than to alter. Geography & Facts Salamanca is the capital of its own province, located within the autonomous community of Castille-Leon. It currently (2006) has a population of around 170,000 people. Sights & attractions Salamanca's main attraction must be it's baroque style square; the Plaza Major. This is as much due to it's ambience & atmosphere as it is because this square is one of the most magnificent arcaded examples in all of Spain. Flanking it on all sides are cafes & restaurants of mainly good quality, & during lunchtimes/evenings sections of it boast temporary seated areas. If you only have a few hours in Salamanca spending them in the Plaza Major with a glass of red wine in your hand would not be such a bad idea. There are no less than two Cathedrals to visit in Salamanca. Both are impressive in their own right, & date from the 12th, & 16th-18th centuries respectively. Construction began on the main university building in the 13th century by the order of Pope Benedict the 13th. It is the oldest university in Spain & one of the oldest in Europe. The later Pope Alexander IV described it as one of the four torches of the world. Above all else it has shaped the culture & fortunes of Salamanca throughout the ages. For further information on the above & other attractions in Salamanca please refer to our Salamanca Attractions document on the left hand side of this page. Getting around The best way to experience Salamanca is on foot. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised & the vast majority of it's sights & attractions are within easy walking distance of each other. Cuisine The typical cuisine of Salamanca includes many roast specialities, these include suckling pig, lamb, goat, & other types of meat. However more pork is consumed here than other meats. Shopping Salamanca boasts a good range of high street fashion outlets together with more authentic offerings. This reflects the mix of people shopping here, those native to the area, & those who are visiting, albeit often for long periods of time. Climate During the summer months (June-September) the climate in Salamanca is very warm, so much so that daily highs can easily reach 35°C. The spring & autumn seasons reach comfortable levels at around 20°C, with mainly sunny skies. However it's winters can be cold, & though mainly dry & not at all humid often dip to as low as 1°C. Salamanca Tourist Office TEL +34 923 268571 FAX +34 923 262492
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