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| Salamanca: |
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Salamanca is the
university city by excellence, known
in the whole world for this and for
its artistic richness: cathedrals,
palaces, churches... of artistic styles
such as romanesque, gothic, plateresque
y barroque.
Situated on the banks of the river
Tormes, its geographical extensión
is 12.336 Km², and It currently
has159.000 inhabitants.
Salamanca, in spite of its extreme
weather (cold and dry winter and
warm summer), has many charms which
make the stay of those who visit
it a very pleasant one, a city where
those activities related to tourism
and free time are essential. Salamanca
was the European City of Culture
in the year. Music, dancing, exhibitions,
street shows... the Calendar of events
of Salamanca 2002 ranged from the
latest cultural tendencies To the
purest enterntainment.
The tourism is Salamanca is complemented
by its original gastronomy and its
popular festivities.
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| Highlights: |
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 Plaza
Mayor:
Prototype of a XVIII century
Baroque square, it was built between
1729 and 1755.
Baroque style square built in the first half of the 18th century, from
1729 to 1755. Almost a perfect square in shape, it is closed and has
an arcade with large arches over the passageways to the various streets
that converge at the square.
The square was built on the site of the old square of Saint Martin, which
was the centre of the city for commerce, social life and games. But at
the beginning of the 18th century this square was filthy and in a state
of deplorable abandonment. This situation bore sharp contrast to the
refomist ideas of the moment which imagined the city as an oderly and
healthy place that it should welcome the growing population of the moment.
It is an almost perfect square structure, with an arcade of half point
arches, above which there are three floors which have a balustrade and
pinnacles decorated with lillies. The enclosure conforms perfectly to
the traditional Castilian square around which the social and municipal
life of the city hinges. The main axes of the old city converge under
the large arches. The layout of these streets was respected in building
the square, which is why the main entrance arches don't have the symmetry
of other Baroque squares.
Curiosity legend
Just like today, some of the most important religious, civilian and leisure
activities of the city took place here: bullfights, processions and even
executions. Some flat owners of the square rented their balconies to
spectatos at quite a high price.
In 1954 the gardens that were placed in the middle of the 19th century
disappeared. A curious tradition had developed in which the men of the
city would walk around the gardens clockwise, and the women in the opposite
direction. The square was a point of civil encounter and, therefore,
also of romantic encounter.
Every August 15, a mast is placed on the City council building, crowned
by the figure of a bull with the flag of Spain. This figure, known as
the "Mariseca", is placed to announce the upcoming fair of
Salamanca. It is not removed until the fair is over.
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 Casa
de las Conchas:
Late Gothic style combined with
the new airs of Plateresque Renaissance.
It began to be built around 1493 and
construction concluded in 1503. Around
1701 the house was repaired and enlarged,
and the façade facing Rúa
Mayor street appeared.
The house was built for the marriage between Rodrigo Aryans Maldonado and
María de Pimentel. Shells and lilies, symbols of both families,
appear throughout the whole building. Throughout history it has suffered
important modifications and restorations. At the moment it has become a
public library for all citizens to use.
Curiosity legend
Perhaps one of the points that generates the most controversy is why
shells were choosen as an ornamental element. Some historians see it
as a show of pride of the Maldonados for belong to the order of Saint
James. Other historians, certainly the more romantic ones, suggest
that the repetition of the shells, a nobiliary symbol of the Pimentels,
was an expression of the love that Rodrigo felt for his wife María.
The basements of the house later on became a place where the students
of the University had to pay fines imposed by the Master of the school.
The coat of arms of the Maldonados crowned by a scepter appears above
the lintel of the door. According to legend, the fleur-de-lis or lily
flower was given to Aldana, an ancestor of the Maldonados, after conquering
the Duke of Normandy in a dule. The King of France, to avoid the death
of his son, gave (or "maldonó") lilies to the Aldanas,
who, from that moment on, called themselves Maldonados.
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 Universidad:
It is the tradition to try and
find the "frog" on the rich
Plateresque facade.
The current building was built in the first half of the 16th century. The
facade is an enormous Plateresque tapestry. The patio of the Escuelas Menores
with its mixed angle arches and Baroque crest plate stands out.
The history of the University of Salamanca began when in King Alfonse IX
founded the School of Salamanca in 1218. In 1254, Pope Alexander IV granted
the School the privilege of beginning a " General Study", thereby
becoming a University. New departments were created and students were exempted
from paying taxes. In 1255 Pope Alexander IV granted a new privilege to
the University: universal recognition of its degrees.
The facade was built in the first half of the 16th century and it is considered
one of the most important facades of the Spanish Plateresque. This façade
was created to be looked at. During the Renaissance man became the centre
of reality. He stopped being a mere pawn of destiny, and became the principal
player in his own life.
Curiosity legend
According to student tradition, if one wants to pass his exams with ease,
he should look at the frog on the façade of the University before
taking it.
On almost all the university buildings we find the famous "vítores".
These signs contain the initials and year of graduation of docorate students.
Originally they were painted with the blood of a bull. Vítores symbolise
the victory of recently graduated doctorate students over the difficulty
of their studies.
The "Sky of Salamanca" has become one of the symbols of the city
and in 2002 it was the symbol of Salamanca used to advertise the city as
the European Capital of Culture. |
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 Torre
del Clavero:
This was a defense tower built at the end of the 15th century. It was part
of the house of Francisco de Sotomayor. Head Clavero (“nail bearer”)
of the Order of Alcántara. The head Clavero was the one in charge
of carrying the nails of Christ’s cross in processions and offerings. |
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 Cueva
de Salamanca:
Legend says that the devil taught black magic to students inside. It is
probable that the association of this church of Saint Cebrián with
the teaching of the necromancy has to do with the existence of a Saint
Cebrián that was a magician before the existence of the saint. |
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 Ciudad
Rodrigo:
In the lands of the west of Salamanca, in the territories of historical
disputes, this beautiful city rises bathed by the river Águeda.
History has provided a peculiar personality to Ciudad
Rodrigo endowing its urban centre with fully defensive
characteristics.
As early as the beginnings of our civilization,
and throughout time, this enclave has acquired the
architectual structures for war that have transformed
it into one of the most interesting fortified areas
in the whole western part of the peninsula.
A walk along the Paseo de Ronda will allow the traveller to see the unique
elements of the defensive system and the particularities of its special
location. The cathedral is a must; loose yourself in the layout of the
streets and squares and discover the charms of a city full of churches,
convents, palaces and ancestral houses of the Renaissance.
And if you have an opportunity don't forget to stop
and visit Miróbriga during the time of the
famous Carnival of the Bull, because it is recognized
as one of the oldest of Spain. In these days there
are numerous festivities in which bulls are the central
participants.
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 Gastronomy:
Between tradition and innovation,
the dining table in Salamanca constitutes
a starting point: the excellence of raw
materials prevails, as the existence
of three denominaciones de origen demonstrates
(Ham of Guijuelo, Lentils of La Armuña
and morucha Meat) and two marcas de garantía
or guaranteed brands (Salamanca Veal
and Cheeses of Arribes). from that starting
point, the magic takes refuge within
the kitchen and, later, surprises and
delights at the table.
His majesty the Iberian ham and sausages are always an
appropriate appetizer. The most famous ones are from Guijuelo,
Ledrada or Candelario. A chanfaina, some potatoes revolconas,
some lentils or some beans al herradero constitute splendid
main dishes that go well with a calderillo bejarano or
a limón serrano. An orange or maruja salad will
allow you to more easily savour a good hornazo.
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for second dishes a roast, whether Salamanca veal, sucking
lamb, roasted piglet or the famous morucha meat. And if
you prefer, choose the goat cuchifrito or some hare with
rice or stewed partridge that can be substituted with a
cocido, a complete meal in itself.
Some eggs with farinato, some chichas o probadura, a plate
of cod or some pickled tench can introduce variety to the
table before deciding to choose the desserts. Fresh fruits:
peaches, strawberries, cherries and figs from the mountains
go before almendrados, suspiros de monja, obispillos, almond
cheese, perrunillas or a good bollo maimón. And
if you prefer cheeses, try the varieties that are offered
in Arribes del Duero and el Abbatial.
All washed down, of course, with good wines of the Sierra
de Francia or of Las Arribes, These are places where the
gentleness of the climate favors the production of grapes
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| Source: Turismo de Salamanca |
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