Headed off to my fifth city in Spain! Salamanca is about an hour and a half train ride away from Madrid. You can most definitely take a day trip to see the city. Similar to Boston or Syracuse, it is known as a college town. Founded in 1134, Salamanca University is recognized as the oldest university established in Spain and the third oldest university in the world. Salamanca has more than 30,000 students and at least 9,000 foreign students l. It is the capital of student life. This small quaint town is lively and full of history and culture.
We began the day by seeing the Plaza Mayor, which is in the center of the city. The center will leave you in awe. The architecture is gorgeous and was designed with a purpose. Each quadrant has a specified theme and crafted on the columns were faces of that theme. Themes included famous writers, kings, saints, and conquerors.
Before starting off on our journey, we sat down at Don Mauro, a restaurant in Plaza Mayor to enjoy a quick breakfast. I ordered chocolate caliente (hot chocolate) that was rich, thick, and insanely delicious.
The first structure we saw was Casa de las Conchas. This was constructed during the Renaissance by a knight and professor at the University of Salamanca, Don Rodrigo Arias de Maldonado. Its significance lies in the shells on its walls.
From Casa de las Conchas, it took us three minutes to walk to the University of Salamanca. The construction is detailed and every corner you look at will give you a story. A famous symbol everyone tries to find is the famous skull and frog. There are many legends of what it represents. Our professors told us if we could find the Rana y Calavera (frog and skull), we would pass the class. We proceeded to take a tour inside the university. My favorite part was seeing see the names of people who graduated painted on alongside the university symbol. This marks that they have completed their Ph.D. I really liked this idea just because you are able to see your name on the walls as a sign of accomplishment. The symbol of the university is also very intricate and beautiful. It adds color and significance to the walls.
During our free time, I went to the Ponte Romano (top left photo) to catch a beautiful view of the old and new cathedral. Walking along the Tormes River and seeing the landscape was rewarding. If you ever see a postcard or receive a souvenir from Salamanca, the photo of the cathedral as a whole is probably taken from this bridge and along the Tormes River because it captures the whole scenery. To get back to the city center of Salamanca, I walked along the Puente Enrique Estevan (top right photo). If there was one thing you had to do in Salamanca, I’d say it is to walk across the two bridges to see the landscape.
When we reunited after our free time, we went to see the cathedral and took a tour inside. For 6 euros, you can climb the Torres de la Catedral de Salamanca. Be careful on the steps though, they are a bit tricky but the view you get at the top is priceless. Similar to the Bell Tower in Florence or Eiffel Tower in France, this would be the tower for Salamanca. The views are priceless and on the way up, you also get a glimpse of the history of the cathedral. From the cathedral, we walked to the Convento de San Esteban (bottom photos) and toured inside to learn about its history.
Salamanca was such an exciting trip and I’d definitely recommend stopping by for a day trip or maybe a weekend trip if you want to experience the student life nightlight.