Salamanca

Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain

Salamanca is a university city. Not just any University, but the western world’s second oldest university. It is celebrating 800 years in 2018.

We arrived about 3:30 PM and stopped here at the old Roman Bridge for a few photos.  It is a memorable first look at Salamanca.  Like many large cities in Spain, the Cathedral is the prominent focal point on the skyline. From this point, the bridge is impressive too. It was built in the first century BCE and was the main way to cross the Tormes River into the city. It is part of the Camino de Santiago and has been maintained for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

First century Roman bridge
First-century Roman bridge

Another feature of any city is the town square, in Spain it is called the Plaza Mayor.

Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain
Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Our hotel, near the old city center, has a great view over the busy city traffic and is only a kilometer from the Plaza Mayor.

Hotel Alameda Palace
Hotel Alameda Palace

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And, four hundred kilometers away is this unique gas station. (Captured with a cell phone through the window of a moving bus.)

Repsol Gas Station in old Salamanca.
Repsol Gas Station in old Salamanca.

Another feature of this part of Spain is the provision for stork nests. They are found in the cities and along the roads in the tops of power transmission towers. This particular “duplex” has a vacant unit.

A stork in its nest.
A stork in its nest.

Look for other posts on the cathedral and the university.

– Where do you want to go today? –

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanca

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Salamanca

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_de_León

 

 

2 thoughts on “Salamanca

    1. Thanks for the comment.
      Maybe the differences between then and now is the difference between a craftsman and a labourer or the difference between building for profit and building for the King. Not all contracts go to the lowest bidder, and they took two hundred years to finish the job.
      In the meantime, we can blog on!

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