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This ancient university town north-west of Madrid has been designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The Carthaginians first conquered the city in the 3rd century B.C. It then became a Roman settlement before being ruled by the Moors until the 11th century. The university, one of the oldest in Europe, reached its high point during Salamanca's Golden Age. Beginning with the Roman Bridge that spans the River Tormes southwest of the city, numerous structures still testify to the 2000 year-old history of antique Salmantica. The remarkable examples include the Old Cathedral and San Marcos (12th century), the Salina and the Monterrey Palaces (16th century), and above all the Plaza Mayor (1729-1755).
But the city owes its most essential features to the University. The remarkable group of buildings in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, which, from the 15th to 18th centuries, rose to the institution that proclaimed itself "Mother of Virtues, Sciences, and the Arts” makes Salamanca an exceptional example of an old university town in the Christian world, such as Oxford and Cambridge. Today it is Castilla's liveliest city, home to a massive Spanish and international student population that throngs the streets at night and provides the city with so much vitality.
Focus your visit to Spain around the historical central plains, with a Rental Car. Visit Madrid; then, Segovia (famous for its historic buildings like the Roman aqueduct and its gothic cathedral); Salamanca (a city famous for its sandstone buildings and the Universidad de Salamanca, one of the oldest universities in the world); after that, Leon (home to many churches and cathedrals noted for their architecture and art) and Burgos (medieval town, rich in ancient churches and convents and base for a tour of the Ribera del Duero or Way of Saint James pilgrimage trail). End this trip with a last night in Madrid before heading back home. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.
