The+culture+of+Salamanca,+Spain

= = =Culture of Salamanca= *Diana Roure* http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Bandera_de_Salamanca.svg/800px-Bandera_de_Salamanca.svg.png

The city of Salamanca is located in the western part of Spain in the Castilla – Leon region with a population of 160,000.

History
Salamanca was discovered by the Vacceos tribe around 400 B.C. They used the land as a fort to “protect their territories along the Duero River.” Less than 150 years later, Salamanca was seized by [|Hannibal], (a Carthaginian military commander), who settled in until the [|Roman Empire] took control. During this period the city was called Salamantica or Helmantica and it became “an important hub of commercial activity.” The Christian religion was popular in Salamanca around the time that the Roman Empire began to fall and the [|Visigoths] arrived around 600 A.D. Though in the 8th century with the Muslim invasion of Spain, the Visigothic rule ended and the Muslim empire ruled Salamanca for many years. The city’s inhabitants fought for the rule of Christian power, which they won and lost several times. This war finally came to a halt when the Spanish monarch [|Alfonso VI] forced the Muslims to the Southern part of Spain – where they governed well into the 15th century. Soon after the triumph, Salamanca was “incorporated as part of Castilla” towards the beginning of the 12th century, bringing in a new population. A century later, [|Alfonso IX] founded the [|university of Salamanca], which the Pope at the time claimed Salamanca “one of the four leading lights of the world.” Being compared to major cities like Paris, Oxford and Bologna led Salamanca to even more success. “The university’s importance continued well into the 16th century, providing the city with academic, cultural and economic wealth.” These good times wouldn’t last, for the city was split into those who wanted to return to their Catholic roots and those that were satisfied with the Protestant movement sweeping Europe. During the 17th century, Salamanca and its surrounding areas were forced into a “series of wars, epidemics and economic crises” that didn’t end until the beginning of the 1800’s. After several monarchs rose and fell, [|Felipe V] took control and built the beloved Plaza Mayor in the heart of Salamanca.  [|http://travel.aolcdn.com/travdestguide/Salamanca-Spain_01-360a032907.jp] [|g] The next issue Salamanca took on was the War of Independence, where Spain fought to keep Napoleon away. Ultimately, the fighting made its way to the city with the [|Battle of Salamanca], which was one of the factors that led to Napoleon’s departure from Spain. While success was achieved for the country, the city’s buildings and university were left in a state of disarray. Throughout the 20th century, the city and university worked to reclaim it greatness with the help of many important Spanish figures, like [|Miguel de Unamuno]. Salamanca reached a full recovery with the death of the dictator [|Francisco Franco]. “Between 1975 and today, Salamanca has reformed both socially and politically into a modern city that continues to bask in the spirit of its illustrious heritage.”

Culture
In 2002, the Culture Secretaries of the European Union named Salamanca the European City of Culture because of its welcoming population and historic richness that other cities strive for. Below is an interview with Teresa Garcia, a native of Salamanca who is a translator and foreign language tutor. media type="file" key="teresa2.mov" The university of Salamanca is the oldest in all of Spain and gives the city a younger vibe, yet keeps the history relevant. The university is located in the “old part of town” where much of the attractions exist. There is an extravagant mosaic of all the great philosophers and scientists that have resided here, as well as several grand cathedrals, convents, towers, museums, theatres, libraries and best of all the beautiful Plaza Mayor. A few of the notable galleries and theatres are the [|Centro Internacional de Arte], where one can see original work by Picasso and Alvarez, and then there’s the Teatro Juan del Enzina, where one can see the “latest plays, dance and music concerts”. **Shopping** http://www.spanishunlimited.com/spain/salamanca/todo.shop.asp Today, there are several department stores and boutiques that line the Plaza Mayor and the streets with all of Spain’s latest fashions. In addition to these, there are several open-are markets that offer some of the best-handcrafted goods and Spanish spices and foods. Throughout every season there are several sporting events that locals spend much of their time at, whether it be futbol (soccer) games, traditional bullfights or skiing. Like Teresa said in the interview, Salamanca is just like any other Spanish city with tons of rowdy fans for the local team “los charros”. Salamanca is also the heart of bullfights in Spain. The Plaza Mayor sued to serve as the main venue until 1893 when the large coliseum, La Glorieta was built. The bullfighting season and the festival season coincide so usually festivals are centered around bullfights. During the winter months, the ski station, La Covatilla, is popular among locals and visitors. http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dVEcBY4684ku/610x.jpg As Teresa said, “Salamanca is a party city.” Natives are notorious for their extensive “frenzied, duck-to-dawn” nightlife and the city is often compared to larger cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Young people usually go out from Thursday to Friday. Usually they start the night off at a bar around midnight, end up at a disco (dance club) until six in the morning and go out for coffee at a café after. The majority of clubs don’t have a cover charge and serve very cheap drinks. There are two types of bars: specialty shot bars called “chupiterias” and “liter bars” where liters of beer are served. People living around Salamanca, as well as American students studying abroad usually make a point to go to Salamanca for the nightlife. http://www.learnspanishcourses.com/images/activities-school/parties/parties.jpg The landscape in Spain usually predicts the types of popular foods and drink. Salamanca is located in the countryside with vast pastures, making it possible for fruits, vegetables and meat to thrive. Cheeses, breads, rice and cured meats are among favorites for locals. Tapas, which are several small meals like finger food in America, are also popular in Spain. There is also a wide range of wines available because of the warm climate during summer. Sweetbreads made with honey, cinnamon and other spices are also common. http://www.spanishabroad.com/images/spain/salamanca/food1smll.jpg Salamanca was named the European Capital of Culture for a reason – because of its rich and many events! On any given day during the year, especially summer though, one might find “a laid-back jazz festival, an Argentinean film series, a sky illuminating fire-works display or a solemn religious procession.” Some of the commonly attended festivals are the Carnaval del Toro (an hour away, is a week long party in the streets ending with a bullfight), San Juan de Sahagan (a celebration of Salamanca’s patron saint), and Nochevieja (a new Year’s Eve Celebration).
 * Old Town**
 * Sports**
 * Nightlife**
 * Food & Drink**
 * Festivals**
 * As you can see, Salamanca has so much to offer. It may be a small town but it definitely doesn’t have a “small” reputation. It is known worldwide for being the capital of every great Spanish experience.**

Works Cited [|http://www.whatsalamanca.com/salamanca-history.html] [|http://www.colegiounamuno.es/Culture/Salamanca-History.html] [|http://www.aboutsalamanca.com/] [|http://www.spanish-town-guides.com/Salamanca_Leisure_Entertainment.htm] [|http://www.whatsalamanca.com/salamanca-sport.html] [|http://www.whatsalamanca.com/fc-salamanca.html] http://www.aboutsalamanca.com/salamanca/nightlife.asp