Salamanca

Salamanca
Salamanca is one of the most prestigious and renown provinces of Spain. Salamanca is the name of the providence as well as the capital city of this particular province of Spain. The provincial city is located near the south-west borders of Portugal and covers an area of approximately 12,336 square kilometers.

The providence is known for its cultural heritage and value system imbedded into the years of progress of the nation. Though the entire province has a unique blend of history and culture, the city is really the emblem of the provincial pride. The city boasts of a culturally diverse population and a magnanimous university that attracts students from all around the world.

The city is also known for its unique location that forms the part of the Duero River that now has lavish green pastures and worth seeing landscapes near the river banks. The beauty of the river banks at Salamanca have no parallel in the entire country and proudly boasts of natural and fertile pastors.

The climate for this region is colder than other areas of Spain where the winter tends to be relatively longer. The summers are shorter in nature and keep on the pleasant sides. Irrespective of the longer winters and shorter summers, there is enough hustle and bustle in the city to keep the people busy and active.

Salamanca like many other cultivated cities of Spain is a large city with a boastful population of around 180,000 inhabitants. The population enjoys the ambiance of a rich, diversified and intellectual city life and yet also gets to enjoy the advantages of the village routine of life. One of the most intriguing aspects of this city is that the locals speak the most pure form of Spanish that is spoken in entire Spain.

Castilian is the local language being spoken and used in the daily transactions of life. Castilian is a culturally rich language that has spread across centuries and has had some of the most renowned singers and writers originating from this particular language. People from across the world come and learn this particular form of Spanish from this divine city of intellectual prowess.

Since the city has a large student body and massive influx of international students, the environment in Spain is friendly and welcoming. People are calm and open minded. There is no traditional barricade between locals foreigners. You even don't have to make rendezvous as you are bound to see everyone in the Plaza Mayor, one of the finest squares in Spain and known as the living room of the Salamantinos.

The Plaza Mayor is the centripetal force for all social and cultural activity. This is the place where you would see lovers, locals, friends, groups and even strangers enjoying the breeze and the polite mannerism of the locality. The little streets are brimming with life and enchantment. One gets lost in the bazaars and local events taking place at different nooks and corners.

Salamanca is a must see tourist place for all international visitors that want to enjoy the rich and traditional way of life. It provides tourists with the attraction of visiting old heritage buildings, cultural events, day trips to surrounding villages, scenic mountains and even lakes that are just a few hours drive.

Another reason that has placed Salamanca on the international map is the monuments belonging to that city. The city is filled with an amalgamation of ancient masonries, palaces, chapels and monuments. A must see in the city is the Casa de las Conchas also known as The House of the Shells). The house of shells is considered as one of the most revered and ancient monuments in the entire of Spain.

The mansion represents the era of the Catholic Kings during the 15th century. The interior of the house has a fusion of gothic, Arabic as well as Italian architecture. Its founder was the Doctor Rodrigo Arias with the ornamental motive of 350 pilgrim shells, which are the symbol of the Order of Saint James, of which he was the chancellor. And the province has done a phenomenal job in ensuring that the building is kept in tact for future generations as well.

Palace of the Anaya School is another architectural wonder of the city. The palace is a masterpiece of Hermosilla neoclassic style and has several centuries of life within it. Adjacent to the school are the dormitories of the students who had worked hard in servicing the students of a richer and nobler birth in order to support their education. The entire palace gives the ambiance of a culture and a social divide that was prevalent in Spain for centuries.

Visitors with a religious zeal enjoy the famous Church -Convent of Saint Stephen. The church is also referred as the Patio of the Kings. Originally, the church started out as a Church for the Dominicans of the 13th century.

Then during the 16th century, Cardinal Juan Alverez of Toledo ordered the construction of the magnificent palace. The construction lasted from 1533 to 1610 and ended in a masterpiece. The gates of the palace is one of pure examples of the renaissance architecture of the last third of the 16th century.