Salamanca

Official name	Salamanca
Imagesize	317px
Image shield	Escudo de Salamanca.svg
Map caption	Location of Salamanca in Spain
Flag size	120px
Shield size	75px
Coordinates region	ES
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	Autonomous community
Subdivision name1
Subdivision type2	Province
Subdivision name2	Salamanca
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Julián Lanzarote Sastre (Partido Popular)
Area total km2	38.6
Population as of	2008
Population total	metropolitan:192,000 city:155,740
Population density km2	4034
Timezone	CET
Utc offset	+1
Timezone dst	CEST
Utc offset dst	+2
Elevation m	802
Postal code	37001-37010
Area code	34 (Spain) + 923 (Salamanca)
Website	www.salamanca.es

, built in the 12th century.]] , built in the 16th century.]]

Salamanca is a city in western Spain. It is known for the beauty of its buildings and urban enviroment, so the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and it is the most important universitary city in Spain. Salamanca is also known for the teaching of the Spanish language; in this field, Salamanca supplies 16% of the market within Spain and attracts thousands of foreign students, what has generated a multicultural environment.

It is situated about 200 km west of Madrid and 80 km east of the Portuguese border. The University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1218 and is the oldest university in Spain and the fourth oldest western university. With its 30,000 universitary students, the university is, together with tourism, the economic engine of the city. Salamanca is the capital of the province of Salamanca, which belongs to the autonomous community of Castile and Leon (Castilla y León). With a metropolitan population around 192,000 it is the second most populated urban area in Castile and Leon, after the capital Valladolid (369,000), and closely followed by Leon (187,000) and Burgos (176,000).

History

The city was founded in the pre-Ancient Rome period by the Vacceos, a Celtic tribe, as one of a pair of forts to defend their territory near the Duero river. In the third century BCE, Hannibal laid siege to the city. With the fall of the Carthaginians to the Romans, the city of Helmantica, as it was known, began to take more importance as a commercial hub in the Roman Hispania due to its favorable location. Salamanca lay on a Roman road, known as the Via de la Plata, which connected it with Emerita Augusta (present day Mérida) to the south and Asturica Augusta (present-day Astorga) to the north. Its Roman bridge dates from the first century, and was a part of this road.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Alans established in Lusitania, and Salamanca was part of this region. Later the city was conquered by the Visigoths and included in their territory. The city was a already an episcopal see, and signatures of bishops of Salamanca are found in the Councils of Toledo

Salamanca surrendered to the Moors, led by Musa bin Nusair, in the year 712 CE. For years this area between the south of Duero River and the north of Tormes River, became the main battlefield between the Christian kingdoms and the Muslim Al-Andalus rulers. The constant fighting of the Kingdom of León first, and the Kingdom of Castile and León later against the Caliphate depopulated Salamanca and reduced it to an unimportant settlement. After the battle of Simancas (939) the Christians resettled this area. After the capture of Toledo by Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085, the definitive resettlement of the city took place. Raymond of Burgundy, instructed by his father-in-law Alfonso VI of León, led a group of settlers of various origins in 1102.

One of the most important moments in Salamanca's history was the year 1218, when Alfonso IX of León granted royal chart to the University of Salamanca, while formal teaching had existed at least since 1130. Soon it became one of the most significant and prestigious academic centres in Europe.

During the XVI century the city reached its medieval splendor (around 6,500 students and a total population of 24,000). During that period the University of Salamanca hosted the most important intellectuals of the time, these groups of mostly-dominicans scholars were designated the School of Salamanca. The juridical doctrine of the School of Salamanca represented the end of medieval concepts of law, and founded the fundamental body of the ulterior european law and morality concepts, including rights as a corporeal being (right to life), economic rights (own property) and spiritual rights (freedom of thought and to human dignity).

In 1551 the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ordered an inquiry to find out if the science of Andreas Vesalius, physician and anatomist, was in line with the Catholic doctrine. Vesalius came to Salamanca that same year to appear before the board and was acquitted.

Salamanca suffered the general decadency of the Kingdom of Castile during the XVII century, but in the XVIII century it had a new reborn. In this period the new baroque Cathedral and main square (Plaza Mayor) were finished.

In the Peninsular War of the Napoleonic campaigns, the Battle of Salamanca, fought July 22, 1812, was a serious setback for the French, and a mighty setback for Salamanca, whose western quarter was seriously damaged. The battle which raged that day is famous as a defining moment in military history; many thousands of men were slaughtered by cannon fire in the space of only a few short hours.

In 1988 the old city is declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1998 it was declared European city of Culture for year 2002 (shared with Bruges). During 14 and 15 october 2005 it hosted the XV the Ibero-American Summits of Heads of State and Governments.

Since 1996 Salamanca has been the designated site of the archive of the Spanish Civil War (Archivo General de la Guerra Civil Española). The original documents were assembled by the Francoist regime, selectively obtained from the administrative departments of various institutions and organizations during the Spanish Civil War as a repressive instrument used against opposition groups and individuals. . The socialist government moved the Catalan part of the archive to Barcelona in 2006 despite opposition from the local authorities and popular protests.

Main sights

Thanks to its Renaissance period sandstone buildings, Salamanca received the nickname La Ciudad Dorada ("The golden city"). This golden glow is unique in Spain and is due to the "Villamayor Stone", a type of sandstone coming from a quarry situated in Villamayor, a village close to Salamanca.

The Plaza Mayor is the central square in the city. It was constructed by Andrés García de Quiñones at the beginning of the 18th century to close the previously existing open public square. The plaza is a nearly regular square of 6,400 square meters surrounded by three-floor buildings in golden stone and 88 shaded arcades with medallions representing historical persons. The plaza is regarded as one of the finest squares in Europe. Next to Main Square we can see the Central Market of Salamanca (1909) over the original market square.

The old Romanesque cathedral was founded in the 12th century. The dome that covers its crossing springs from a double arcade that is daringly pierced with windows, a distant reflection of Hagia Sophia. The mass of four pinnacles at the outside corners counter the thrust of the dome's weight. The thrust of the vaulting is borne by four massive pinnacles. The vault of the apse was frescoed by the Early Renaissance painter Nicolas Florentino. The adjoining "new" cathedral was built in stages from 1509 and combines Late Gothic architecture, particularly in the interior, with the Renaissance style called Plateresque. It was still being finished in 1734. In the treasury is the bronze crucifix that traditions tell was carried into battle by El Cid.

Other sights include:

*the Augustinian monastery, containing the tomb of the count and countess de Monterrey, by Alessandro Algardi.

Art Nouveau and Art Decó Museum Casa Lis

White Chapel of the Trues Cross, a small church with a Renaissance portal. It was remade in Baroque style in 1714 by Joaquín Churriguera, also responsible of the retablo in the high altar.

Convento de las Dueña (15th century)

La Clerecía (17th-18th centuries), a complex including Baroque collegium, cloister and a church with a large façade.

Dominican Convent of St. Stephen (16th century), with a large Plateresque façade.

Casa de las Conchas, palace from the late 15th century, in Gothic style.

House of doña María la Brava, noble residence in Gothic style built in 1485

Convent of the Annunciation (16th century)

Palacio de Monterrey (Monterrey Palace), one of the best examples of Plateresque style in Spain, begun in 1539. It was designed by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón and Martín de Santiago. It has a quadrangular plan, with towers on the corners and a central court. At the corners are sculptures of lions and imaginary animals, keeping the coat of arms of the Zúñiga, Acevedo, Ulloa and Fonseca families. In the interior are two landscape paintings by Jusepe de Ribera (1639), and a Jason with the Dragon by Salvator Rosa. The palace is currently owned by the House of Alba.

Palacio de Orellana, in classical-Mannerist style.

Palacio de la Salina (1546), in Renaissance style, by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón.

Torre del Clavero in Calle del Consuelo, the remains of the fortified residence of Francisco de Sotomayor, keeper of the keys (claveros) of the Order of Alcantara in 1470

Gli scudi di entrambe le famiglie si trovano scolpiti sulla torre. È una tipica costruzione militare di fine XV secolo. (late 15th century)

Anaya Tower (15th century), an old Gothic mansion

University

.]] In 1218, Alfonso IX of León founded the University of Salamanca. Under the patronage of the learned Alfonso X, its wealth and reputation greatly increased (1252–1282), and its schools of canon law and civil law attracted students even from the Universities of Paris and Bologna. In the 16th century, the city's fortunes depended on those of the university. About the time Christopher Columbus was lecturing there on his discoveries, Hernán Cortés took classes at Salamanca, but returned home in 1501 at age 17, without completing his course of study. (About ten years later the conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was born in Salamanca.)

It was scholars of the University such as Francisco de Vitoria who, heavily influenced by the Paris-based Scottish philosopher John Mair, helped design in 1512 the Laws of Burgos which established the right to life and liberty of the indigenous peoples of America.

Ignatius Loyola, while studying at Salamanca in 1527, was brought before an ecclesiastical commission on a charge of sympathy with the Illuminati, but escaped with an admonition. In the next generation St. John of the Cross studied at Salamanca and so did the poet and writer Mateo Aleman. Miguel de Unamuno was a prominent figure of the university in more modern times.

Many people continue to come from all parts of Spain to study at the University, and the students represent a significant percentage of the city's population (the University has 36,000 students, approximately). The support of the student population is one of the most important economic activities in the city. These young people (also consisting of international students studying the Spanish language) provide Salamanca with a highly active night life, specially when school is in session on both weekdays and weekends. Among the American universities that sponsor significant summer semester programs are Wake Forest University, Lamar University of Beaumont,Texas and Lamar State College of Port Arthur,Texas and the University of Georgia. This has led Salamanca to be in the top list of cities with the highest bar per inhabitant ratios in Europe, second to Bilbao .

Geography

The city lies on several hills by the Tormes River, which is crossed by a bridge 150 m long built on 26 arches, fifteen of which are of Roman origin, while the remainder date from the 16th century.

Climate

Salamanca's climate is Continental Mediterranean, with cold winters, and hot summers softened by the altitude and dry throughout the year.

Communications

Railroad

Renfe has trains to national destinations like Madrid, Barcelona, Valladolid, Zaragoza, while international destinations are Paris (via Irun), Porto and Lisbon

Road

Highways

A50: Autovía de la Cultura: Ávila - Salamanca

A62: Autovía de Castilla: Burgos - Valladolid - Salamanca - Ciudad Rodrigo.

A66: Autovía Ruta de la Plata: Gijón - Oviedo - Mieres - Puerto de Pajares - León - Benavente - Zamora - Salamanca - Béjar - Plasencia - Mérida - Sevilla.

SA-11: North access to Salamanca.

SA-20: South access to Salamanca.

Other roads

N-501: Ávila - Peñaranda de Bracamonte - Salamanca.

N-620: Burgos - Venta de Baños - Valladolid - Tordesillas - Salamanca - Ciudad Rodrigo - Portugal.

Airport

The airport, located in the military base of Matacán, is located about 14 km east from the city. Thera are regular flights to Barcelona, Paris, and charter flights to Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands. In the summer there are also regular flights to Palma de Mallorca, Menorca, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Ibiza.

Public transport

There are 13 bus lines during the day and one night line. Also, a tram line has been projected.

Culture and sports

Whs	Old City of Salamanca
State party
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv
Id	381
Region	Europe and North America
Year	1988
Session	12th
Link	http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/381

In 2002 Salamanca shared the title of European Capital of Culture with Bruges. Salamanca is a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer. Tourism is the primary economic activity in the city.

Salamanca offers the amenities of a larger city while retaining an intimate small town atmosphere. Since 1923, "Los Charros", formally the Union Deportiva Salamanca, have been the Salamanca football team.

Salamanca was the setting for the 2008 political thriller Vantage Point, although the movie was almost exclusively filmed in Mexico.

The classic dish of the Salamancan, known as Charreria ("peasant lands"), is a cocido, a baked casserole of garbanzo beans.

A traditional Salmantinian celebration is the Lunes de Aguas, "Water Monday", the Monday after the Sunday following Easter. Originally this served to celebrate the official allowance of the authorities for the prostitutes to return to the city after Lent and Easter. All the shops close and Salmantinos picnic in the countryside to eat a kind of pie called "hornazo".

Town twinning

Bruges, Belgium Buenos Aires, Argentina Coimbra, Portugal Gijón, Asturies, Spain Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Nîmes, France Würzburg, Germany

archive (built in 1719).]]

See also

Salmanticenses

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca

References

External links

Official Tourist Information Office

Wiki of the city of Salamanca

General information on Salamanca

Salamanca travel guide

Salamanca: Spain's answer to Oxford by The Guardian

Museums (among many other without a webpage):

Art Nouveau and Art Decó Museum Casa Lis

Car History Museum

Cathedral Museum

Category:Municipalities in Salamanca Category:Salamanca province Category:University towns Category:World Heritage Sites in Spain Category:Populated places established in the 3rd century BC Category:European Capitals of Culture