Salamanca: Nearby Towns and Day Trips

Segovia

The monumental size of the Roman aqueduct has become the icon of this millennial city. Segovia is its walls, its great plaza, its cathedral, its Romanesque churches, its convents, its narrow streets, and its splendid mansions. It has been and is the meeting point of cultures down through the millennia: Roman, Arabic, Jewish and Christian.

The city today vibrates with the same power and drivethat symbolizes themajestic Alcazar of the Middle Ages. Any traveler will be able to see that once they are there it was worth the trip. Discover its Muslim architecture, be amazed at the sheer mass of the aqueduct, and tour the castle that looks as though it came straight out of a fairy-tale.

Ciudad Rodrigo

Unlike the popularity of Segovia and out shown by the dazzle of Salamanca, Ciudad Rodrigo is one of the best-kept secrets. It is a city with one of the longest recorded histories in the Iberian Peninsula and was a strong hold during the Peninsula War. Although a good proportion of its Old Quarter was destroyed, the Cathedral demonstrates a collection of several different styles as a result of having been started in 1165 and not completed until 1550. Close by the Cathedral is the Chapel of the Marquess of Cerralbo, a superb example of classic Herrera-style with a fine interior.

Bejar

Long famous for its capes, woolens and blankets, Bejar has now become a local industrial and administrative center. Sights of major importance include the Palace of the Dukes of Béjar, rebuilt in the 16ht century over the still visible remains of a castle, the 13th century Churches of St. Mary Major and St. John the Baptist. In addition la Antigua Park commands a stupendous panoramic view of the local mountain scenery. Not all is architecture however; there is also the exquisite Italian Renaissance-style garden, El Bosque, with its promenades, ornamental palace and pond.

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