History

In 400 BC Salamanca was founded by Celtic tribes. The Romans then annexed the city as part of the Province of Lusitania and Alfonso X was the first person to call it Salamanca. Christianity arrived to the city some time before the year 600 and then the Moors conquered it in 712. The region was ruled by the arabs for 4 centuries with constant fighting inbetween. In the 12th century Salamanca was restored to the Christian monarchs. Various groups like the Portuguese,the Torenses, the Mozarabs, and the Castilians arrived and developed their communities.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the life of the city was overshadowed by fights between rival groups. In the 16th to 18th centuriesWith the arrival of the Renaissance, the city enjoyed a period of peace and growth along with the golden period for art and architecture with Salamanca producing great artists, sculptors and authors.

Salamanca played an important role in the war of Independence. The wars had catastrophic consequences for Salamanca as they brought down much of the city's cultural and artistic heritage. Many colleges, palaces and architectural treasures were destroyed. The battle of Salamanca ended in defeat for the French army and marked a turning point in Napoleon's occupation of Spain.

In the 20th century with the arrival of democracy and the restoration of the monarchy the city has been transformed both socially and politically by becoming a modern city without losing the culture and history that it has inherited. Consequently it has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in 2002 has been honored with the role of European Cultural Capital.

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