City Guide: Salamanca

     Salamanca is an epicurean destination par excellence.

     In Greece Epicurus the philosopher taught that a pleasure is the highest good, but he would eat his words today if knew this piece of paradise was already available in Salamanca. The city offers you all opportunities to please both your body and soul from the old architectural elegance to modern Spanish buzz.

    You can have truly hedonistic experience in Salamanca with Booked.net. Be it a room in cheap hotel in Salamanca to luxury one we have them all listed at Booked.net. Check out our hotel offers with maps, photos and secure forms at our website.

    In today's Spain Salamanka offers you the chance to enjoy traditional cabrito, young goat and Cochinillo, suckling pig in its restaurants. But the city has brought through time a real cultural flavor best reflected in the local cuisine. Along with regional dishes the Moors and Jews also lent their influences to the cuisine of Salamanca, so you can tantalize your taste buds with tapas or pinchos with a glass of draft beer.

     On a visit to the local bar you should be ready to face the strong student community in Salamanca. The presence of the university founded in 1218 transformed the city into a destination for those young at heart to learn the Spanish language and just enjoy Salamanca's feel of intimacy.

     Even though the city is big enough - numbering 180,000 residents, it is still a place to get away from the noise of big city. Sitting at the Tormes River, Salamanca is a gateway to a truly Renaissance experience as it is regarded as the best of Renaissance heritage cities in Europe. For its cobbled streets, ornate arches and churches done in Romanesque to baroque styles the city earned a reputation as a "City of Mankind's Heritage" by UNESCO.

Other attractions include;

 - Plaza Mayor, the lively heart of the city with bustling cafés and restaurants

 - The Old Cathedral, built during the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries and today presents comprehensive mix of styles

 - House of Shells, dates back from the time of the Catholic Kings

 - The Roman bridge dates from the year 89AD and served as an important part of the Roman silver route

- Convento de San Esteban, a Dominican monastery that is very popular among tourists

     The city of Salamanca dates back to the 4^th century BC when it expanded on its location at the very outset of the “Road of the Silver”. In the 13^th century, the king Alfonso IX invested money into the construction of the University of Salamanca and Salamanca has won prestige as an educational center. In addition, Salamanca became a hometown to such famous personalities as Miguel de Unamuno, a writer who later obtained the chair as the vice-Chancellor at the University of Salamanca.

     Today Salamanca is a bustling city yet growing in culture and for this it won the ranking of the European Capital of Culture in 2002. Booked.net can place you in the epicenter of activity in Salamanca with a few clicks.