Holiday in Salamanca

What makes Salamanca special as a destination?

Salamanca, the golden university city, shines in warm sandstone and pulses with the energy of thousands of students. Founded in 1218, the university is the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe — it has shaped the city so profoundly that Salamanca remains Spain's most important center for Spanish as a foreign language. Thousands of international language students give the city a cosmopolitan flair. The Plaza Mayor, designed by Alberto Churrigüera and completed in 1755, is considered the most beautiful baroque square in Spain and one of the most impressive squares in the world. In the evening, the lights bathe the arcades in golden light, and the city gathers here for the Paseo. The old and new cathedrals stand side by side, spanning styles from the Romanesque 12th century to the baroque 18th century — on the facade of the new cathedral, one can discover an astronaut relief added by restorers. The Casa de las Conchas with its shell-adorned facade, the Palacio de Monterrey, and the Universidad Pontificia showcase the distinctive Plateresque style — a delicate Spanish variant of Renaissance architecture. Student life concentrates around the Gran Vía and Calle Van Dyck with countless bars and tapas restaurants. From Salamanca, one can reach the Sierra de Francia with the picturesque mountain village of La Alberca and the Roman Silver Road (Vía de la Plata). The city is compact enough to explore on foot and enchants especially at sunset when the sandstone glows golden.