Salamanca

Salamanca
Salamanca
View of Salamanca from the Old Cathedral

Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Salamanca in Spain
Coordinates:
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Castile and León
Province Salamanca
Government
 - Mayor Julián Lanzarote Sastre (Partido Popular)
Area
 - Total 38.6 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Elevation 802 m (2,631 ft)
Population (2008)
 - Total 155,740
 - Density 4,034/km2 (10,448/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s) 34 (Spain) + 923 (Salamanca)
Website www.salamanca.es
Old Cathedral of Salamanca, built in the 12th century.
New Cathedral of Salamanca, built in the 16th century.
Monterrey Palace (16th century).
Plateresque facade of the University of Salamanca.

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 is situated about 200 km west of Madrid and 80 km east of the Portuguese border. With a population around 160,000 and with its metropolitan area the population rises to more than 200,000, also it is necessary to count the resident students, it is the third most populated city in Castile and Leon, following Valladolid. 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 the Spanish language;[1] in this field, Salamanca supplies 16% of the market within Spain[2] and attracts thousands of foreign students[3].

Contents

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 theCarthaginians 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. The Roman bridge dating to the first century, 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 ofDuero River and the north of Tormes River, became the main battlefield against the Muslim invaders. The constant fighting of the Kingdom of León first, and the Kingdom of Castile and León later against the Caliphatedepopulated 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 resttlement 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 created the University of Salamanca. Soon it became one of the most significant and prestigious academic centres in Europe.

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.

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.

Main sights

Thanks to its Renaissance 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. The plaza has a capacity of 20,000 people and is surrounded by shaded arcades. The plaza was originally a venue for bullfights but is currently used primarily for concerts. The plaza is regarded as one of the finest squares in Europe. Next to Main Square we can see the Central Market of Salamanca with typical fresh products of Spain.

Plaza Mayor.

The old Romanesque cathedral was founded in the 12th century. The domethat 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 was carried into battle before El Cid.

Other sights include:

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

Since 1996 Salamanca has been the designated site of the archive of the Spanish Civil War (Archivo General de la Guerra Civil Española). This archive was 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. [1]. The socialist government moved the Catalan part of the archive to Barcelona in 2006 despite opposition from the local authorities and popular protests. Salamanca's mayor, Julian Lanzarote (PP), changed the name of the street where the archive is located from "Gibraltar" to "El expolio" ("the plundering") in February 2006.

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, heavily influenced by the Paris-based Scottish philosopher John Mair, who established in Spanish law (at the Council of Burgos, 1512) the right to life and liberty of the indigenous peoples of America - perhaps the first ever international statement of human rights. Miguel de Unamuno was a student here as was Miguel de Cervantes. 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.

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 36000 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. 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.

Climate data for Salamanca
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4)		 22.5
(72.5)		 24.7
(76.5)		 29.8
(85.6)		 34.7
(94.5)		 37.0
(98.6)		 39.8
(103.6)		 39.6
(103.3)		 37.5
(99.5)		 30.6
(87.1)		 24.5
(76.1)		 18.5
(65.3)
Average high °C (°F) 7.9
(46.2)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 15.7
(60.3)		 19.7
(67.5)		 25.2
(77.4)		 29.3
(84.7)		 28.7
(83.7)		 24.5
(76.1)		 18.2
(64.8)		 12.4
(54.3)		 8.8
(47.8)		 17.9
(64.2)
Average low °C (°F) -0.7
(30.7)		 0.3
(32.5)		 1.4
(34.5)		 3.5
(38.3)		 7.0
(44.6)		 10.5
(50.9)		 12.8
(55)		 12.4
(54.3)		 9.0
(48.2)		 6.1
(43)		 2.2
(36)		 0.7
(33.3)		 5.5
(41.9)
Record low °C (°F) -13.4
(7.9)		 -10.5
(13.1)		 -8.2
(17.2)		 -5.0
(23)		 -1.4
(29.5)		 3.0
(37.4)		 5.8
(42.4)		 4.5
(40.1)		 1.4
(34.5)		 -4.8
(23.4)		 -7.6
(18.3)		 -9.6
(14.7)
Precipitation cm (inches) 3.1
(1.22)		 2.7
(1.06)		 2.2
(0.87)		 3.9
(1.54)		 4.8
(1.89)		 3.4
(1.34)		 1.6
(0.63)		 1.1
(0.43)		 3.2
(1.26)		 3.9
(1.54)		 4.2
(1.65)		 4.2
(1.65)		 43.6
(17.17)
Avg. precipitation days 6 6 5 7 8 5 3 2 4 7 7 7 66
Source: Agencia Española de Meteorología (1971-2000 climatology) [4]

Communications

A street of the Old city of Salamanca.

Railroad

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

Road

Highways

Old Roman Bridge (1' century A.C.)

Other roads

Airport

The airport, located in the military base of Matacán, is located about 14 km 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.[5]

Culture and sports

Old City of Salamanca*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Salamanca Cathedral
State Party  Spain
Type Cultural
Criteria i, ii, iv
Reference 381
Region** Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1988  (12th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.espanolensalamanca.com Spanish in Salamanca
  2. ↑ http://www.elcastellano.org/noticia.php?id=972
  3. ↑ http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/02/castillayleon/1215017453.html
  4. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Salamanca, Spain". Agencia Española de Meteorología. http://www.aemet.es/es/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=2867&k=cle. Retrieved 2009-10-20. 
  5. ↑ Presentan un estudio de viabilidad para la implantación del tranvía en Salamanca

External links

Museums (among many other without a webpage):

Electronic editions of local newspapers:

European Capitals of Culture

1985 Athens · 1986 Florence · 1987 Amsterdam · 1988 West Berlin · 1989 Paris · 1990 Glasgow · 1991 Dublin · 1992 Madrid · 1993 Antwerp · 1994 Lisbon · 1995 Luxembourg City · 1996 Copenhagen · 1997 Thessaloniki · 1998 Stockholm · 1999 Weimar · 2000 Reykjavík · Bergen · Helsinki · Brussels · Prague · Kraków · Santiago de Compostela · Avignon · Bologna · 2001 Rotterdam · Porto · 2002 Bruges · Salamanca · 2003 Graz · 2004 Genoa · Lille · 2005 Cork · 2006 Patras · 2007 Luxembourg City and Greater Region · Sibiu · 2008 Liverpool · Stavanger · 2009 Linz · Vilnius · 2010 Essen · Istanbul · Pécs · 2011 Turku · Tallinn · 2012 Maribor · Guimarães · 2013 Košice  · Marseille
World Heritage Sites in Spain
For official site names, see each article or the List of World Heritage Sites in Spain.
North West

Caves of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain1 · Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias · Roman Walls of Lugo · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · Santiago de Compostela · Tower of Hercules
Flag of Spain
North East

Caves of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain1 · Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon · Pyrénées - Mont Perdu2 · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries · Vizcaya Bridge
Community of Madrid

Aranjuez Cultural Landscape · El Escorial · University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares
Centre

Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida · Archaeological Site of Atapuerca · Ávila with its Extra-mural Churches · Burgos Cathedral · Cáceres · Cuenca · Las Médulas · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · Salamanca · Santa María de Guadalupe · Segovia and its Aqueduct · Toledo
East

Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco (Tarragona) · Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí · Ibiza (Biodiversity and Culture) · Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona · Palmeral of Elche · Poblet Monastery · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Silk Exchange in Valencia · Works of Antoni Gaudí
South

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín · Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias, Seville · Córdoba · Doñana · Renaissance Monuments of Úbeda and Baeza · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1
Canary Islands
Garajonay · San Cristóbal de La Laguna · Teide National Park
1 Shared with other region/s · 2 Shared with France