Salamanca Holidays

The province of Salamana borders with Portugal and the provinces of Zamora, Avila and Caceres and is one of the most magic provinces in Spain. Fertile lands watered by the riveres Duero and Tormes, vast pastures used for cattle and pig farming, spectacular natural parks, including the Arribes del Duero and Peña de Francia, picturesque villages lost in time, and of course, its majestic capital, the City of Salamanca, a World Heritage City, European Culture Capital in 2002, Spain's oldest university and one of its most beautiful and monumental cities in the country (many would say the most).

Salamanca capital city
Salamanca is city reminiscent of Oxford or Cambridge in the sense that it seems to breathe art, culture and knowledge as you walk along the streets and admire its señorial houses, small palaces, university buildings, towers, churches, the cathedral. For the best panoramic view of the city, go to the Parador of Salamanca on the other side of the River Tormes. Popular with thousands of foreign students who come to Salamanca each year to study one of the Spanish language and culture courses offered by the University or one of the seemingly hundreds of acadamies, Salamanca is a cosmopolitan, lively city.
History

Like most parts of Spain, Salamanca was occupied by the Romans and Visigoths. During Moorish occupation of Spain power toed and froed between the Arabs and Christians. In the 11th Century Alfonso VI consolidated Christian rule and appointed Count Raimundo de Borgoña, to rule over the city. This was the beginning of Salamanca's recovery, as the new stability encouraged people from all over the Iberian Peninsula to make their home in the city. In the 12th century the Old Cathedral was built and as it became a center of study, the seeds of one of Europe's first universities were sown. As the center of study grew, so religious orders and scholars started flocking to Salamanca, and their presence consolidated the University. Convents were built, money was donated by the Catholic church leaders, residences for scholars were built, and Salamanca became Spain's most important city during the Renaissance period, resulting in the so-called Spanish Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) when Spanish art, literature and music flourished. Fray Luis de León, Antonio de Nebrija, Lope de Vega, Christopher Columbus, Calderón de la Barca, Teresa de Jesús, San Juan de la Cruz, Cervantes and Christopher Columbus all spent part of their lives in Salamanca.

The Plaza Mayor
Probably the best place from where to start walking around Salamanca, and where to have a cafe con leche or glass of cold water at one of the tables set up by the bars and cafes in the square. The Plaza Mayor was built in the 18th century.

The University
It has a beautiful architecture and the famous plateresque façade with the hidden frog. The Old University Library is simply awesome, with shelves full of old literary and scholarly works of art. The library has over 160,000 volumes. Also visit the cloister, the paraninfo and the surrounding University buildings.

Casa de las Conchas
Renaissance. Casa de las Conchas is one of Salamanca's most emblematic buildings. Today it is an art gallery and library.

Catedral Viaja
XIII. The Old Cathedral of Salamanca has a unique façade of this building which was to become the one of Europe's main temples of knowledge and scientific research, and the embrion of one of Europe's first universities.

Catedral Nueva
The New Cathedral of Salamanca is again unique in the decoration of the façades. It has a Romanic and gothic mixture of styles since the work on the new Cathedral began in the 1400s and ended in the 1700s.

Convento de las Dueñas
Convent founded by Juana Rodríguez Maldonado in 1419 is a beautiful cloister. The nuns sell pastries and sweets to visitors.

Clerecia
Is an unfinished example of religious barroque art. A huge cupola, magnificent 12th century altarpiece covered with gold and stairway.

Casa Lis Museum
Art nouveau and Art Deco, the Casa Lis Museum receives more visitors than any other museum in the whole of Castilla y Leon.

Museo de Bellas Artes: Art museum.

Palacio de La Salina
16th century structure attributed to Alonso de Fonseca. Headquarters of the Provincial government, this building has a beautiful indoor patio.

Convento y Museo de las Úrsulas
Convent and museum in one of the favourite areas of locals for having a paseo (stroll) in the evening.

Colegio del Arzobispo Fonseca
Rennaisance patio. Cultural activities are organised here in the Summer months and next door there is a former hospedería (hostal) where art exhibitions and other cultural activities are held all year round.
Cueva de Salamanca
Where, according to legend, the devil used to teach scholars everything that their religious teachers would not teach them.

Huerto de Calixto y Melibea
Lovely garden where supposedly Calixto and Melibea used to meet.

Iglesia de San Martin
12th century church next to the Plaza Mayor. Romanic façade.

Convento de San Esteban: Spectacular plateresque façade where in the center above the entrance is Ceroni's Martyrdom of St. Stephen (1610). The church, designed by Juan de Álava in the shape of a Latin cross, was begun in 1524. The beautifu inner courtyard is a blends Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Museo de la Historia de la Ciudad
Museum which explains the history of Salamanca.

Casa-Museo de Unamuno
House of Miguel Unamuno, the emblematic philosopher and scholar who was Rector of the University of Salamanca for two long periods until Franco's troops put him under house arrest until he died.
Eat in Salamanca
One of the characteristics of Salamanca's countryside are its wild pastures dotted with bushes and oak trees where pigs walk around eating fallen acorns which give all pork products a special flavour
Salamanca is famous for its cured pork meats and hams, and for the beef from the morucha cow, a breed which is only found in this province. Other typical dishes based on local produce are pulse stews and casseroles (lentils, chickpeas, beans of all shapes and sizes), cereals, roast suckling pig and breads.
Restaurants
Chez Victor, probably the best restaurant in the city. Modern using local traditional ingredients; Merchán, creative cuisine; La Hoja, next to the Plaza Mayor, good traditional food; La Aldaba, specialised in morucha beef dishes; La Encina, a modest restaurant serving good grilled meats.
Tapas bars in Salamanca: The most famous (and popular so it's difficult to get a place at the bar) are: El Acedos, La Bodega, Bosque and El Trillo.