Salamanca was chosen as a European Cultural Capital in 2002 and is located 200 kilometres from Madrid, in the northwest of Spain. This city is very well known outside of Spain because it is one of the most beautiful and lively cities of the Iberian Peninsula. It has about 180,000 inhabitants, of which 35,000 are students. The historical centre is stunningly preserved and it offers a huge variety of architectural styles from the Romanesque period, passing through Gothic, Baroque and Plateresque, whose presence is widely visible in university buildings (a historic building) and carefully restored cathedrals.
The palaces, schools, university buildings, cathedrals and Plaza Mayor (main square) – which is said to be the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in Spain – make this city a unique place and different from other Spanish cities.
In addition to its rich cultural heritage, Salamanca is famous for its university, one of the oldest in the Western world. It was founded by King Alfonso IX and built at the same time as the universities of Paris and Bologna and even today, its facade is considered a Plateresque masterpiece.
The combination of the cultural and academic tradition gives the city of Salamanca a wide range of cultural and social activities that can satisfy all tastes.
In recent times, Salamanca has become one of the most popular student destinations in the world, thanks precisely to its cultural and artistic wealth. Studying in Salamanca offers the opportunity to live the Spanish way of life in a historic city while learning Spanish.
Salamanca is a welcoming city with a rich cultural heritage which makes it an ideal destination for all types of needs and tastes.