Salamanca – the center of knowledge
Overview
The city of Salamanca is in western part of Spain and is about 210 Km west of Madrid. The old city is a Heritage site. Its population is about 200,000. This city is famous not only for its monuments but also for the University of Salamanca. The economy of Salamanca is driven both by tourism and the University. This is also known as the city of Spanish language and many people wanting to learn Spanish come to this city. When it is dusk, the monuments in Salamanca show a golden hue.
Climate
The summer in this city is very hot – 40 °C and the winter is cold – minus 13 °C.
History
The Vacceos were the Celtic tribe who founded Salamanca in pre-Ancient Rome period to defend their area. Romans conquered this city from Carthaginians and in this period this city became popular for commercial activities due to its location. In the year 1218, Alfonso IX of León established the Salamanca University and it has become a popular academic center in Europe.
This city’s history, learning and art are hundreds of years old and it is visible when you walk around the city. People look at this city as a city of knowledge and thinking but in addition you will find that this city is full of beauty and art. The old part of the city has been acknowledged as a heritage site by UNESCO. The architecture in this city is varied – Gothic, Romanesque, Plateresque and Baroque. The university is the oldest and has Renaissance architecture.
Cuisine
The city has many eating places where you can get variety of foods with traditional flavors. Eating tapas – light snacks – with drinks is a specialty in this city. Whenever you order a drink, you will get short eats that go with it and this is tapa.
The restaurants and bars serve varied types of foods – traditional, international and home style – and the restaurants specialize in items made from meat, fish and seafood; you can get items according to your budget. Some of the food items you should try in this city are ham, beef, lentils and pastries.
Sports and Entertainment
The most popular sports in this city are skiing and golf. You can have fun by hiking in the Batuecas Valley, Sierra de Gata Mountains, etc. You can also enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the landscape by walking in the garden Calixto y Melibea.
The students in the University of Salamanca make the city alive both during the day and night. To facilitate this there are a number of pubs, bars and nightclubs and the tourists can dance, watch movies, hear concerts, etc. The nightlife is predominant in the historic center areas – Plaza de San Justo Square, Varillas, Plaza Mayor Square and Gran Vía Street.
The best way of seeing the monuments in this city and also exploring the historic center is by taking a ride in the Tourist Train that starts from Plaza de Anaya Square every half hour. Other areas of interest for children are Cathedral with lerominus exhibition, Machines with heart, Automobile Museum and Casa Lis.
One of the prime shopping areas in this city is the historic centre and you can purchase souvenirs, books, crafts, gourmet foods, etc. in this place.
Business
Conventions, seminars, exhibitions, etc. can be held in the historic centre at Salamanca, Domus Artium Centre and Castile and León Conference and Exhibition Centre. This place has history, monuments, culture and ancient charm and people combine business with tourism. It is well connected by road to Madrid.
Photo Credit: Pixabay Shutterstock