January 22nd, 2023

Hello Readers,

Let me start off by wishing you all a happy new year. I decided to start off the year strong and go on a day trip just two and a half hours away from Madrid to the city of Salamanca. Is is a city packed with history that can be seen through the buildings, people, and museums. I will recount my experience and share pictures that I took as I show you around Salamanca.

The day trip began at the Roman bridge which crosses over the Tormes River. The bridge welcomes you to the city and shows you the city from a different perspective as you can see the top of the bell tower, the neutral-colored buildings serving as homes and businesses, and residents jogging along the sidewalks.

After, I passed outside the civil war museum which houses many temporary and permanent exhibitions from the Spanish civil war, a very important event in Spanish history where there was revolt against in the government in 1936.

The city has two cathedrals, one old and one new(er). In the past, they only had one cathedral but since it was starting to show its age they built a new one and planned to knock down the old one once the other one was completed. But, in the end, both cathedrals were still being used so both cathedrals were kept, one next to the other.

I visited the old cathedral first which has a very significant bell tower and beautiful details on the domes seen in the middle. If you have time, you are able to go up to the bell tower and see the entire city from up above, which I unfortunately did not have time to do so it is on my bucket list for the next time.

The only logical thing to do after was to go visit the new cathedral which has few hidden “easter eggs” showing the modernity of this cathedral. In carvings below, try to find the astronaut and the griffin holding an ice-cream cone.

An interesting building, San Martin Chapel, that is right next to the cathedrals is where Franco (a Spanish dictator that came into power following the Spanish civil war) hid during the Spanish civil war. Once again demonstrating how Salamanca hides history inside its walls wherever you go.

Another prominent landmark in this city is the first university on the Iberian Peninsula, founded in 1218, the university of Salamanca. The façade of the building is extremely intricate and is sure to capture tourists from all over. There are a couple hidden details in the carvings, such as a small frog that is known as a good luck symbol to students at the university.

The courtyard Escuelas Mayores is a courtyard that is part of the university. The center is covered with grass and a well. It also houses “Cielo de Salamanca” which shows how astrology and astronomy was viewed in the past and how it was taught at the university. In this painting there is also a phrase of a reminder that God created everything in the universe. A third of the work of art remains and is open for the public to view if you visit the courtyard.

To finish off the day, I visited La Casa Lis which houses many pieces of decorative art, an enormous doll collection, jewelry, and an array of stained glass windows. It is a building that stands out when entering the city as it is one of the first buildings you encounter. It also features incredible features indoor such as carvings on the ceilings.

Although I visited Salamanca for only a short day, I was able to take in the history and learn more about the history of Spain. I hope you learned a little more about this town and some of the history that is showcases to visitors. I hope you have a wonderful 2023 full of travel and adventures.

Sincerely,

The Eternal Traveler