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Plaza Mayor – While
certainly not as grand as the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, it is much more graceful
and welcoming. Like most central plazas in Spain, it's where people come
to meet, sit in a cafe and relax. But in this plaza you may find yourselves
entertained by students casually playing guitars or even Las Tunas, the
student bands of minstrels dressed in Renaissance costumes. |
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This is a city that invites strolling, and leaving from the
Plaza Mayor a stroll will take you past some of the city's most beautiful
churches,including the Iglesia de la Purisima, Monastery
of Saint Ursula, the Capuchins Church, and the Monasterio
de los Irlandeses. |
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Las Tunas – Not a
place, but a "sight." Modern day troubadours, these are University
of Salamanca students who group according to their college and travel the
streets of Salamanca singing for the public. They dress in 16th century
costume, complete with buckled shoes and capes covered by ribbons given
them for serenading ladies. They play renaissance mandolins, tambourines,
and guitars – you'll find yourself swept
up in their fun. |
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The University Quarter – The Universidad de Salamanca was one of the greatest center of learning
in Europe especially from the 12th century through the 17th century. A favorite
story here is about Frey Luis de Leon, a scholar during the Spanish Inquisition.
Another professor denounced him to the Inquisition and he was seized from
his classroom and imprisoned for four years. When he was released,
he walked back to his classroom and resumed his lecturing with the simple
statement, "As we were discussing..." Quite rightly, there's a
plaza here named for Frey Leon. |
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The University of Salamanca is one of the oldest in
the world, founded about the same time as the universities in Bologna and
Paris. Many of the buildings were built in the reign of Los Reyes Catolicos – you know, the ones who gave Columbus
his ships. The facades are covered with many small figures that kids will
have fun trying to decipher.
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Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco – No matter whether you've always yearned for an authentic Tiffany lamp
or know your kids hate the whole era, no one could resist being captivated
by this magical fairy land from the minute its incredible stained glass
facade appears before you. If possible, wait until dark to see it for the
first time: the whole building seems to glitter with radiant color. |
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"Casa de las Conchas" (House of the
Shells) – Across from the Clerecia,
this sandstone house is covered with large shells. It was built in the 16th
century by a knight and courtier to the court of Fernando and Isabel, Sr.
Maldonado. Even the iron work has shells in the design. The house now serves
as a cultural center, so it's a great place to stop in to find out what's
worth seeing while you're in town. |
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Go down to the ranch – This region of Spain is famous for the bulls it raises. While you may not
want to take children to a bull-fight, you can take them to a ranch and
watch the young apprentices learn: no bloodshed – just the balletic moves of the young men (and women!) who are training for
the ring. Ask about farms at the Tourism office: some farms are fairly open,
others are quite secretive. If a bull ranch isn't for you, then go horseback
riding. |
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Around Salamanca – |
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 Las
Batuecas is a village inside in a wild-life reserve for lynxes and
rare mountain-goats.
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Ciudad
Rodrigo, about an hour or so from Salamanca, is a medieval town walled
city. With a Romanesque Cathedral, 15th and
16th century buildings and palaces, definitely one of the "must
see" towns of this area. |
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Alba
de Tormes is a must-see for anyone fascinated by Saint Teresa. The Saint's
body is in the Convento de las Carmelitas, but there are also many
other historic buildings there. |
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Bejar
mountains – About an hour drive
from Salamanca the villages here are famous for textiles. |
