Munusal - the cultural and youth association model

THE CITY OF SALAMANCA

In the banks of the Tormes River one can find the wonderful city of Salamanca, home to a population of around 160,000 inhabitants, the great majority of which are students. When the Romans conquered the Spanish Peninsula, this city started to become an important commercial hub. One of the most important moments in the city's history is 1218, when Alfonso IX founds the University of Salamanca. Our University, specialized in the studies of law and other arts, soon became one of the most important in Europe.

Home of many battles and historic events, our city was of vital importance in the Napoleonic Wars. Its main square, which can fit around 25,000 people, is considered one of the finest in Europe. Originally used for bullfights, it now holds concerts and other events. Next to it, one can find the "Market of Salamanca", with fresh products from all over Spain.

Salamanca is one of the most spectacular Renaissance cities in Europe. Most of its buildings are made out of stone from Villamayor, a nearby village. This material gives Salamanca its golden glow and its nickname "The Golden City". Dated from the 12th century, the city's beautiful Old Cathedral (let´s remember

that there are two cathedrals in Salamanca) hoards the Crucifix carried into battle for the Spanish knight "El Cid". Thanks to these attributes, Salamanca was named in 1998 as one of Unesco's World Heritage Cities.

Known for our law faculty, students from France and Italy have been coming to Salamanca since the University's foundation. Hernan Cortés was also a student here, along with the writer Miguel de Cervantes, the philosopher John Mair, the author Miguel de Unamuno and the poet Mateo Alemán, among others. Also known for its "pure" Spanish, Salamanca is home to all kinds of foreign students who want to learn the language. This gives Salamanca a floating population of 36,000 students who contribute largely to its economy. They, too, boost weekdays nightlife, which helps our city to have one of the highest bar-per-inhabitant ratios in Europe. Among these hundreds of pubs, one can find several of one's liking

An interesting holiday is "Lunes de Aguas", which commemorates the day when all the prostitutes returned to Salamanca after Lent. To celebrate it, the people from Salamanca go to the countryside and eat a picnic, whose main ingredient is a stuffed pastry called "hornazo".

Tourism, especially in the summer, is the primary economic activity in Salamanca. Our city attracts a great deal of visitors from all over the world. They come to see the "Patio de Escuelas", or Schools' Square: a peaceful square dominated by a statue of the great 16th-century Spanish monk and poet, Fray Luis de Leon, who was one of the historic teachers at the University.

Inside the square we can also contemplate the Rectorate, which now occupies the one-time hospital, a jewel of Renaissance Gothic architecture. The Patio de Escuelas in turn opens up to a beautiful cloistered courtyard that still inspires study and reflection. Overlooking the patio is the ornate stone facade of the old University built in the 16th century in what is known as the unique Salamanca Plateresque style. By the way, a favorite entertainment for tourists consists of trying to find a tiny frog sitting down on a skull sculpted somewhere on the facade. It´s said that the student who is able to find it will be lucky during the examn period.