Learn Spanish in Salamanca: Location
Salamanca offers Spanish students a small town atmosphere. World renowned as Spain’s most prestigious and oldest University town. The city is home to 160,000 inhabitants of whom, 30,000 are young Spanish University students. There is a lively University student scene (Uni students present from October to June each year) which adds to the energy of this vibrant and fun language course destination.
Life in Salamanca centres around the baroque elegance of Plaza Mayor, a fabulous and monumental plaza surrounded by bars, restaurants and shops where you can enjoy weekly concerts, lectures or theatre. It is known as ‘The Golden City’, La Dorada, because of its wonderful sandstone buildings. The joy of the Salamanca is everything’s close proximity: the college, the accommodation, the cafes and bars.
The town appeals to Spanish students and tourists alike on a year round basis and the night life is abundant. Salamanca appeals to all tastes and interests. The Spanish live at a fast pace year round and love their night life, from clubs to local taverns, bars and restaurants (that won’t become active until 11.00 at night) there is always somewhere to be and something to do. With a winter temperature that only occasionally drops below freezing and a summer temperature that can reach 30° C, Salamanca has a dry continental climate.
Sights & Attractions in Salamanca
La Plaza Mayor
Centre of all Salmantino activity, the Plaza Mayor continues to bustle as it did in the 18th century. Widely considered Spain’s most beautiful square, its intricate baroque adornment glimmers on yellow sandstone by day. By night, the plaza lights up for all to enjoy the lively ambiance.
Night life
Madrid is Spain’s night life mammoth, but Salamanca packs the same punch with small town prices! From big discotecas to intimate jazz haunts, students pile into all kinds of bars every night of the week.
Universidad de Salamanca
Salamanca boasts Europe’s 5th oldest university, present all around in elegant, yellowstone buildings. Breath in more than 800 years of intellectual life as you wander the streets and halls of Spain’s great thinkers like Luis de Góngora, Miguel de Unamuno and Pedro Calderón de la Barca.
Cathedrals – yes, there are two!
One of Salamanca’s top attractions is the cathedral complex. The Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral) was built over 200 years starting in 1512 and, thanks to those two centuries of construction, is a prime example of the evolution of Spanish architecture. The Catedral Vieja (Old Cathedral) is attached to its newer counterpart and is a stellar example of early Christian Romanesque architecture and contains Europe’s oldest organ.
