Where is Salamanca

Asks jabbajay

A. Salamanca is a city in central Spain (close to Madrid). There are also towns of the same name in Chile and Mexico.

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Q. I have never heard of the Spanish city - should I have

A. It is a truly beautiful city and if you are into architecture at all you should put it on your "must see" list the next time you are in Spain. It will become a European Capital of Culture (together with Bruges) in 2002 so it is likely that you'll hear a lot more about it soon. The Rough Guide to Europe calls Salamanca the most graceful city in Spain - it has a quiet, serene feel to it, is home to one of the oldest universities in the world and is full of cathedrals, palaces, old bridges and more than a couple of bookshops. It has a population of 200,000 inhabitants.

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Q. Apart from the university is it famous for anything else

A. Spanish architecture owes a lot to two styles that were developed in Salamanca. Churrigueresque is a more ornate form of Baroque and takes its name from Jose Churriguera and Plateresque which is based on the intricate and delicate work of silversmiths adorns many buildings in Salamanca including the university.

Salamanca is also famous for its food - it has a very high reputation in Spain. Some of its best-known dishes are Cochinillo al Fuego (roast pork, rice and chorizo sausage) and Hornazo and Chichas pies.

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Q. Can you recommend any good places to visit

A. Some of the best places to visit include the following:

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Old and New Cathedrals

The Old Cathedral dates back to the 12th and 13th Centuries and its architecture is a fine example of Spanish Romanesque.

In contrast, construction on the New Cathedral (Catedral Nueva) began in 1512 (and was not completed until the early 18th Century) and is a good example of both Churrigueresque (on the dome and the choir stalls) and Plateresque (on the fa�ade of the cathedral). Today it houses a small collection of works by Fernando Gallego, Salamanca's most famous painter. Look out of the Golden Chapel and its amazing sculptures inside the New Cathedral - it is one of the highlights here.

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Salamanca University: construction on this university began in the early 13th Century, making it one of the oldest in the world. Traditionally a great seat of learning, it is highly regarded today for its decorative fa�ade and fantastic library that houses thousands of books, some dating back to the 11th Century. Pope Alexander IV called the university "one of the four torches of the world".

Church & Convent of Saint Stephen: is a beautiful 16th Century church that was built on the same site of a 13th Century Dominican church on the orders of Cardinal Juan Alverez of Toledo. Today it is well known for its Latin Cross and its spectacular ornamental gate.

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House of the Shells (Casa de las Conchas): is a famous local landmark because it is covered in shells - in reality these are pilgrim shells - the symbol of the order of St James. It is well worth a visit.

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Plaza Mayor: this 18th Century square in the centre of town was created by Churriguera and is often referred to as among the most beautiful in Spain. From it lead many narrow streets full of impressive and beautiful churches including the

Iglesia de la Purisima Church , the Monastery of Saint Ursula on Calle Bordadores, the Capuchins Church on Calle Ramon y Cajal, and the Monasterio de los Irlandeses.

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Torre de Gallo: situated on Plaza Anaya this old archiepiscopal palace served as Franco's headquarters during the Spanish Civil War.

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Palace of Monterrey: dates back to the early 16th Century and its eight towers and four main buildings are famous throughout Spain as it is one of the most popular palaces (dominated by Spanish tourists) in the whole country.

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By Karen Anderson