City Overview

Population: 180,000
Location: Midwest Part of Spain (Castilla y Léon)

Salamanca lies on a plateau by the Tormes river and is one of the most spectacular Renaissance cities in Europe. Through the centuries, the sandstone buildings have gained an exquisite golden glow which has given Salamanca the nickname "La Dorada", the Golden City. The origins of this UNESCO World Heritage City hark back to Celtic times. Polybius, writing in the 2nd century BC, speaks of the city, referring to it as Helmantik. The bridge is a witness to Roman domination, and was constructed in the time of Trajan as an essential part of the Silver Route as it forded the River Tormes. At this point in history and again under subsequent Moorish occupation, Salamanca vanishes as an urban entity.

With the advent of Alfonso VI in 1085, these lands were repopulated withFranks, Galicians, mountain peoples (Serranos), Navarrese and the like. Two centuries later, the creation of the so-called Estudio Salmantino (literally Salamanca Study), subsequently converted into a university by Alfonso X, was to prove the decisive event in Salamanca's emergence as a universally acknowledged city of culture. In 1218, Alfonso IX of Castilla and León, founded the University of Salamanca. Today, it is one of the oldest universities in Europe, and has helped to make Salamanca world famous.

Salamanca is large enough (180,000 inhabitants) to be able to offer the advantages of a real city, but at the same time it keeps the intimacy and charm of a small town. This has helped to make Salamanca an enormously popular destination for people from all over the world who want to learn Spanish while at the same time enjoying the best that Spain has to offer.

You will find the people of Salamanca to be warm and hospitable. Contacts are made easily, and one of the best places to do this is at the Plaza Mayor, probably the finest town square found anywhere in Spain. Throughout the day and night, people congregate in the square to socialize, get something to eat, or just sit down and have a glass of some of the excellent local Spanish wines.

The area around Salamanca also offers many opportunities for cultural andsporting day-trips to villages, the mountains, or to the many surrounding lakes. Madrid is only 2 hours away, and the border of Portugal is even closer!

Without a doubt, Salamanca is an ideal location to learn Spanish and experience Spain.

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