A Student Guide to the Culture of Salamanca
Salamanca is considered on of the most spectacular Renaissance cities in Europe. It has been dubbed “Le Ciudad Dorada”, or The Golden City, because of its sandstone buildings. Many years and much weathering have given the sandstone a warm glow that is truly magnificent, and unique to Spain.
If you are planning on studying in Salamanca, there are a few things you might want to know about first regarding the history and culture. Many things about how Salamanca was shaped through time have affected the city we know and love today. Behind all the beautiful buildings lie stories. We highly recommend that you visit at least nine of the many historic locations during your stay here in Salamanca.
Now for the history bit...
Salamanca lies on a plateau by the Rio Tormes. It was founded by a Celtic tribe to defend their territory on the river. This is an important fact, as many centuries later the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco also used Salamanca as his headquarters.
In the third century BC, Hannibal conquered the area, and was later followed by the Romans. Under Roman rule Salamanca became an important commercial hub, but was called Helmantica, or Salmantica.
Salamanca is in the region of Castilla y Leon, one of the major regions in Spain today. It was established in 1983, from the former Old Castilla. This is where the flag we see today comes from. A lion (Leon) and a castle (Castilla) adorn the banner of the region.
An important point in the history of the city was in 1218, when Alfonso IX, King of Leon, founded the University of Salamanca. Ever since then Salamanca has been economically dependent on the University, and people from all over the world are drawn to what has become one of the top universities in all of Europe.
This beautiful city was catapulted back into world politics in more modern times, when the famous dictator Francisco Franco used it as his headquarters during his reign. The legacy that Franco left can still be seen today, more than thirty years after he stepped down. He focused very heavily on Nationalism, borrowed from Fascism, was fervidly anti-Communist, and worked very hard to defend Catholicism and anything that he deemed “Traditional”. He fostered a pride in traditional Spanish customs that can still be witnessed, and he succeeded in completely restructuring the economy, causing an economic boom that made Spain one of the worlds leading countries.
The University was founded in 1218 by Leonese King Alfonso IX, and quickly began drawing many students. At the height of the University’s prestige in the 16th century, 1 in 5 residents of Salamanca were students. This obviously made the University a huge financial asset, and defined Salamanca as a university town. Today, almost 800 years later, Salamanca is still definitely a university town. The nightlife is famous, and everything is kept very clean. The streets are cleaned every night, and there are strict regulations one must follow to make a new building in the center of town. Appearances are kept up, because the economy is dependent on continuing to draw new students.
Many famous people have studied at the University. Christopher Columbus lectured on his discoveries there, and explorer Hernan Cortes took classes. Miguel de Cervantes, (Author of Don Quixote ) attended, as did Miguel de Unamuno, an important figure in the history of Salamanca itself.
Although there are many buildings throughout the town that are part of the University, the main building is a must see for all visitors. It’s extravagantly carved front is beautiful, but to have the full experience you must look for the frog (about a third of the way up on the right side). There are many ideas about why the frog is there. Some say it is simply good luck to be able to see it. Some say it is a biblical symbol, as one of the plagues of Egypt was frogs. However, some say it has nothing to do with luck or the bible, and the frog is actually a toad, and it serves as a warning to young college boys. In traditional Spanish literature the toad represents the ugly temptress luring the innocent young men into evil ways of life. It must be remembered that as a university town, Salamanca was predominantly young men, and a town full of young men was where many prostitutes gathered. And many prostitutes carried diseases. Beware young men, don’t succumb to their charms! They may look pretty, but they are evil and will most likely give you warts. Best keep to your studies!
The Devil´s Cave is at the top of an old fashioned little street. It is actually more of a tower than a cave, but the view is grand and it´s very fun to visit at night. Of course, it also has a story behind it...
Legend says that this was where the Devil trained his apprentices. He had six young men under his wing, and the rule was that at the end of the training, five had to stay but one could go free. One foolish boy once escaped, and although he got away with his life, the Devil kept his shadow as recompense. It is said that you can still see the lone shadow at times, stuck in the Devil´s cave for eternity.
The Monterrey Palace is owned by the rishest woman in Spain, the Duchess of Alba. Construction began in 1539, and today it is renowned as one of the most popular civilian constructions of the Spanish Renaissance. It was recently refinished, and is certainly worth a visit.
One of the oldest and most serene sights in Salamanca is the Roman Bridge. Originally this bridge was constructed in 89 AD, however, in the 17th century it was reconstructed because of flood damage. The original purpose of Salamanca was to be a fortress, and the only way in was through the Roman Bridge, which made the city easy to defend.
Now the Roman Bridge is a great spot to get a look at the Cathedrals, and watch an amazing sunset. There are places to sit on the bridge, and it is an excellent place to sit and listen to the water.
The Convent of Saint Esteban is a church of the Dominican Religion. The Dominican religion was founded in the middle of the 12th century, and puts a high value on education. The first Dominican churches were in Paris and Bologna. Salamanca was the site of the first Dominican school. The convent standing today was finished in 1610, and has two styles of architcture; Gothic and Renaissance. The two styles are especially distinct around the main altar piece.
The Plaza Mayor is the central square of Salamanca and was constructed between 1729 and 1755. The style it was built in is Baroque. Salamanca´s Plaza Mayor is arguably the most beautiful in all of Spain.
In the past it was used as Franco´s headquarters, and for public speeches. Today, when you walk around the Plaza you see the faces of Kings and Queens and other important people in the history of Salamanca. (Franco´s face is probably the cleanest. He is constantly getting painted, and then his plaque gets cleaned.) Most importantly, the Plaza is a place for the community to get together. During the weekends and at night you can see people standing beneath the clock, waiting to meet their companions. You can also see the towns older generation taking their evening stroll around the Plaza.
The Plaza is also a great place for shopping, considering how it signifies the beginning of the Central Business District. There are plenty of coffee shops and a great ice cream place as well!
The Cathedrals consist of the Catedral Viejo (Old Catedral) and the Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral) built next to each other. The Old Cathedral was constructed in the 12th century and the New Cathedral was built as an expansion between the 16th and 18th centuries. In 1887, the Cathedrals were declared to be a National Monument. The Cathedrals are one of the highlights of Salamanca and we highly recommend a visit.
Colegio Unamuno is located close to the Rio Tormes. It is a small school dedicated to teaching Spanish to foreign students. Like many other buildings and organizations in Salamanca, it is named after Miguel de Unamuno. He was a philosopher and writer in the 1900s who served as a rector at the University of Salmanca and is well known for standing up to Franco´s men who were stationed in Salamanca. After his brief public confrontation with one of Franco´s officers, he was placed under house arrest until his death. It is because of Unamuno´s daring to stand against the Francoist regime that he is honored today.
Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells) was build in the 15th century and is evidence of the Moorish invasion. The building shows the typical Mudejar style (the blending of Muslim and Christian architectural styles). While the House of Shells was once a palace, it is used as a public library and one of the many offices of tourism in Salamanca.
Salamanca is a beautiful city, and we hope you enjoy your stay here!