Also known as the "Golden City" for the color of its glistening buildings, Salamanca has long been the protagonist of Spain's most significant historical, artistic and cultural events. Home to the 2nd oldest university in the world, Salamanca is located in the region of Castilla y León, the region where castellano (the orginal form of Spanish) originated.
Of Salamanca's 180,000 inhabitants, 30% are university students, which makes it the best place to study if you want to befriend other Spanish and international students. On the whole, its residents are extremely friendly and welcoming of foreigners, and they surprisingly don't seem to mind the crazy nightlife that makes this city one of the best party spots in Spain.
Aesthetically speaking, Salamanca is a magnificent center of architecture and the arts. It was named the European Cultural Capital in 2002, and many of the writers you'll learn about when you study Spanish - Fray Luis de León and Miguel de Unamuno, among others - have passed through the halls and picturesque streets of this city. Salamanca holds the best examples of the Spanish plateresque style, a highly detailed and decorative school characterized by sculptural ornamentation, and it also boasts 2 cathedrals, a host of Romanesque churches and the most beautiful Baroque square in Spain, the Plaza Mayor.
Salamanca is imbued with culture, history and academia... it's the perfectly stimulating and fun environment to learn Spanish.
