Oldest University Town In Spain
It's main square, the Plaza Mayor, was recently featured in the 2008 movie "Vantage Point".
The River Tormes flows through Salamanca and the river's name was perpetuated by its link with the character of Spain's famous picaresque novel, Lazarillo de Tormes.
Plaza Mayor In Salamanca, Spain
Brief History of Salamanca
Like many older cities in Spain, Salamanca was founded in the pre-Ancient Rome period by the Celts. In the third century BC, the city was beseiged by Hannibal. The city later became important as a commercial hub and was called Helmantica or Salmantica.From 712 AD to the twelve century AD, Salamanca was under the control of the Moors. Being located between the major Moorish cities to the South and the Christian cities to the North, made it somewhat of a neutral no-man's land. The Christians regained the city in the 12th Century AD. Shortly after that, Alfonso IX created the University of Salamanca, the oldest university in Europe.
Violence continued in the Battle of Salamanca (July 22, 1812) in which thousands of men were killed by cannon fire in the matter of a few hours. This battle was a serious setback for the French.
Salamanca was a major factor in the Spanish revolution, and some of the professors, like Fray Luis de Leon,were forced to leave for political reasons. It is said that upon his return to the classroom after some years away, he began his class with "Como decia ayer..." (As I was saying yesterday...).
Classroom of Fray Luis De Leon
Aula de Fray Luis de Leon in University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca
"Europe's Oldest University"
One of the most important moments in Salamanca's history was the year 1218, when Alfonso IX created the University of Salamanca. It's significance and prestige has continued to grow until the present.In the Spring of 2007, I spent several days in Salamanca, and everyday, I would go to the University area, and marvel at the architecture and intellectual history that came from this institution.
It was an unique experience passing by the classrooms (aulas) preserved in the state they were in when such famous lecturers as Fray Luis de Leon walked the classrooms espousing their knowledge. I think I would have had trouble sitting on the wooden benches, but then again, I guess I am spoiled by modern living.
University of Salamanca Library
Salamanca, Rio Tormes, and Lazarillo de Tormes
"The Beginnings of Picaresque Literature"
Through Salamanca flows the Rio Tormes (Tormes River). It is this river that gave us the name for the first picaresque novel, a genre begun in Spain, Lazarillo de Tormes.The entry from Wikipedia for Lazarillo de Tormes includes the following description of the work.
[The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities (La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades) is a Spanish novella, published anonymously, in 1554 in Alcalá de Henares in Spain, and, in 1555, in Antwerp, Flanders, then under Spanish rule. At this time in Spain, there was a strong social trend towards racial and religious prejudice, and the utmost importance was placed on appearance.
Besides its importance in the Spanish literature of the Golden Age, Lazarillo de Tormes is credited with founding a literary genre, the picaresque novel, so called from Spanish pÃcaro meaning "rogue" or "rascal".
In these novels, the adventures of the pÃcaro expose injustice while amusing the reader. This extensive genre includes Tom Jones by Henry Fielding and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and shows its influence in twentieth century novels, dramas, and films featuring the "anti-hero".]
Video Overview of Salmanca, Spain
Salamanca España - Salamanca Spain
Salamanca es una ciudad española, capital de la provincia homónima, en la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León. Está situada en el Campo de Salamanca, junto al rÃo Tormes. Algunas fotos propiedad de: Ignacio Gutierrez,Paulo Azevedo, Frank Chang, Veraferia, Photokhan, Geranio, Pascal Heymans. Gracias!! (more)
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Travel To Salamanca As A Travel Agent!
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Salamanca Research Resource Links
- Go Salamanca Dot Info
- This site gives a brief, but thorough history of Salamanca from its inception in 400 BC to the modern day period.
My Series on Unique Towns and Cities & Other Sites
Travel has been my passion for years and I would like to share it with you. Check out the others in the series below.
- Suzhou, China
- Lens # 1 of Series: Marco Polo was said to have called Suzhou the "Venice of the Orient" because its canals are so reminiscent of Venice, Italy. The poet, Yang Chaoying, who lived during the Yuan Dynasty, said in one of his poems:"In heaven above there is a paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou".
- Ronda, Spain
- Lens # 2 of Series: With a history dating back to pre-Roman times, Ronda has become the third most frequently visited town in Andulucia, behind only Sevilla and Granada.
- Mijas, Spain
- Lens # 3 of Series: The mountainous town of Mijas overlooks the famous Costa Del Sol beaches near Malaga and is permeated with panoramic views, beautiful gardens, and the famous white houses. Mijas is one of the "Pueblos Blancos" or "White Towns", where the majority of the houses are traditionally painted white. These towns for the most part are on the mountainous ridges that run parallel to the Costa Del Sol.
- Khajuraho, India
- Lens # 4 of Series: Khajuraho, India is noted for its erotic temple carvings, and beautiful countryside setting. Khajuraho is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, and has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in India. This group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- "Everything Travel" Blog
- Welcome to Everything Travel, a blog where we can talk about anything and everything dealing with travel.
- All My Squidoo Sites
- Follow this link to see a list of all my squidoo lenses.
- Global Travel International
- This site is my full service travel site. On this site, you can purchase travel packages, airfares, car rentals, cruises, or just read the interesting travel information provided on my travel toolbox.>/i>
Books Specific To Salamanca Spain
Lazarillo de Tormes (Dual-Language)
It presents this classic in a very proficient way to an English speaker. In a short, to-the-point introduction, the author explains which edition has been chosen for the Spanish version and why. He gives just enough historical and literary context about the Lazarillo to make it more enjoyable, and explains some very reasonable spelling choices.
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/20/2009) 
Lazarillo de Tormes and The Swindler: Two Spanish Picaresque Novels (Penguin Classics)
The two short novels in this volume follow the adventures of two unlikely heroes-delinquent pÃcaros living by their wits among corrupt priests and prostitutes, beggars and idle gentlemen, thieves, tricksters, and murderers. Lazarillo de Tormes (1554), published anonymously, provided a literary model for Cervantes' Don Quixote and describes the ingenious ruses employed by a boy from Salamanca to outwit a succession of disreputable masters. Francisco de Quevedo's The Swindler (1626) is a comic yet brutal and sordid account of a servant who wants to become a gentleman but ends up a cardsharp and common criminal.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/20/2009)
Salamanca, 1812
This book examines in unprecedented detail the battle of Salamanca, a critical British victory that proved crushing to French pride and morale in the Peninsular War (1808-1814). Focusing on the day of the battle, award-winning author Rory Muir conveys the experience of ordinary soldiers on both sides, dissects each phase of the fighting, and explores the crucial decisions each commander made.
Amazon Price: $45.00 (as of 12/20/2009)
The University of Salamanca: Eight centuries of scholarship
Amazon Price: (as of 12/20/2009)
More On Salamanca Spain
Category: File - :Cathedral of Salamanca Romanesque.jpg|thumb|260px|Old Cathedral of Salamanca, built in the 12th century.
Category: File - :Catedral de Salamanca lateral.JPG|thumb|260px|New Cathedral of Salamanca, built in the 16th century.
Category: File - :Palacio de Monterrey de la Duquesa de Alba.JPG|thumb|263px|Monterrey Palace (XVI century).
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, the capital of the province of Salamanca, which belongs to the autonomous community of Castile and Leon (Castilla y León). The Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
It lies about 200Â km west of Madrid and 100Â km east of the Portuguese border. With a population around 160,000 it is the third most populated city in Castile and Leon, following Valladolid and Burgos.
Salamanca is known both for its monumental sights and the University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1218 and is the oldest university in Spain and the fifth oldest western university. With its 30,000 students, the university is, together with tourism, the economic engine of the city. Salamanca is also known for the teaching of Spanish language,http://www.espanolensalamanca.com Spanish in Salamanca in this field, Salamanca houses 16% of the offer available in Spain http://www.elcastellano.org/noticia.php?id=972 and is known to attract thousands of foreign students http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/02/castillayleon/1215017453.html.
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