Car Hire Salamanca - Mini guide to Salamanca
The world heritage city of Salamanca teems with historic churches, palaces, houses and streets. It is also home to the oldest university in Spain, giving it a vibrant nightlife and young outlook. These various ingredients make it an enthralling city to visit.
There are numerous highlights in this historic city, including the Plaza Mayor, a beautiful Baroque square which includes the royal pavilion. The Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells) is adorned by 300 shells left by pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Not to be missed is the university, founded in 1254 with the present buildings dating from the 15th century and adorned in a Gothic style. The old and new cathedrals, which stand side by side and contain the intricate Cockerel Tower, also merit a visit.
Salamanca is a city to discover on foot, with every twist and turn steeped in history. A stroll down Mayor Street takes in the House of Shells and the Renaissance palaces of Salina, Orellana and Anayana plus the Baroque styled monastery. You should also walk over the Roman bridge on the River Tormes and stop at the Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
For food lovers and night owls, Salamanca is exciting. Home to 40,000 students, Salamanca is loaded with bars and clubs, with many based in the historic quarter and serving regional food like roast suckling pig and farinotos - a type of sausage. Shops range from stalls selling religious trinkets to designer and second-hand clothes outlets catering for the student population.
Salamanca is the focal point on the Via de la Plata (silver route) an old Roman road and pilgrim route which snakes through the province and can be used to explore medieval villages, Romanesque churches and natural beauty spots adorning the Sierra de Francia mountain range.
By car, the N-620 leads into Salamanca from both Barcelona and Portugal. From Madrid, take the N-VI northwest, forking off to Salamanca on the N-501. Trains arrive directly from Madrid, with the journey taking two hours thirty minutes.
