Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Salamanca Don't Miss List
BY BEATRIZ CASTAÑO & JUAN OLAZABAL, ADOPTED
CHARROS
(SALAMANCA NATIVES)
1 LA PLAZA MAYOR
By all means admire the plaza's 88 arches adorned with busts of the great and
good, and the way the sun turns the plaza's local sandstone to gold. But the es-
sence of Salamanca, where life is performance, is to take up residence at one of
the outdoor tables and watch all the life of Salamanca flow through the plaza.
2 THE CATHEDRALS & PLAZA ANAYA
Apart from the cathedrals' landmark architectural features, look for the astronaut
mischievously carved into the Catedral Nueva's northern door during restora-
tions, and the cracks and broken stained-glass windows from the 1755 earth-
quake. Right outside, students pass the afternoon, sometimes in song, in Plaza
Anaya, one of Salamanca's most charming corners.
3 THE UNIVERSITY FACADE
The facade of Salamanca's prestigious university is a plateresque masterpiece.
But the devil lies in the detail. Trying to find the famous frog of Salamanca is a
local rite of passage: according to local legend, the student who fails to find it will
fail in their studies. But its origins probably lie in lust - it's actually a symbol of fe-
male sexuality…
4 TAPAS ALONG CALLE VAN DYCK
Tapas is a Salamanca passion and Calle de Van Dyck, north of the old town, is
the most emblematic tapas street, where it's all about Salamanca's famous pork
products, especially
embutidos
(cured meats). Hop from bar to bar and try the
pincho moruno
(marinated kebab),
lomo
(cured pork sausage),
jamón
and
chan-
faina
(a paella accompanied with various pork cuts).
5 STAYING OUT AS LONG AS YOUR BODY LASTS
Search WWH ::
Custom Search