Salamanca history

The history of Salamanca is rooted in deep antiquity, dating back to the Iron Age. The first settlement emerged on the hill of San Vicente, overlooking the Tormes River, approximately 2,700 years ago. The city was founded by Celtic tribes (Vettones or Vaccaei) and originally bore the name Helmantica.

In written sources, the city first makes a bold appearance in 217 BC, when it was besieged and captured by the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. Subsequently, under Roman rule, the settlement transformed into an important city of the province of Lusitania, receiving the name Salmantica.

The transformation of a small Celtic hillfort into a thriving ancient polis was driven by several strategic factors:

• Geographical location: Its position on the hills provided natural protection, while proximity to the Tormes River offered access to water and fertile lands.
• The Silver Way (Vía de la Plata): Salamanca became a key node on the most important Roman highway connecting the south (Mérida) and north (Astorga) of the Iberian Peninsula. This guaranteed a constant influx of merchants and travellers.
• The Roman Bridge: The construction of a monumental stone bridge across the river in the 1st century AD (part of which has survived to this day) made the city an indispensable crossing for military and trade purposes.

Even in the early stages of its development, Salamanca demonstrated traits that defined its future:

• Exchange economy: Thanks to its status as a transport hub, the city became a centre for the trade of livestock and agricultural produce, which laid the foundation for its wealth.
• Cultural synthesis: Local Celtic traditions gradually blended with Roman civilisation. Civic infrastructure developed actively in the city, forums and temples were built, contributing to the rapid Romanisation of the population.

Key Milestones in the History of Salamanca

• 217 BC — Carthaginian general Hannibal captures the ancient settlement of Helmantica, marking the city's first mention in historical chronicles.
• 1st century AD — The erection of the monumental Roman Bridge across the Tormes River integrates the city into the strategic "Silver Way" route.
• 712 — The Muslim conquest leads to a temporary decline of the city, which finds itself in a sparsely populated buffer zone ("No Man's Land").
• 1102 — Count Raymond of Burgundy begins a large-scale repopulation of the city and the restoration of the fortress walls.
• 1218 — King Alfonso IX founds an educational institution that became the first university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe.
• 1254 — The University of Salamanca receives official recognition from the Pope, placing it on par with the universities of Paris, Oxford, and Bologna.
• 1493 — Construction is completed on the famous "House of Shells" (Casa de las Conchas), a unique monument of civil Gothic architecture.
• 1513 — The first stone is laid for the foundation of the New Cathedral, the construction of which would continue for over two hundred years.
• 16th century — The flourishing period of the "School of Salamanca", when the city becomes a centre of European intellectual thought and international law.
• 1729 — Construction begins on the Plaza Mayor, considered today to be one of the most beautiful Baroque squares in the world.
• 1755 — The Lisbon earthquake causes damage to the tower of the New Cathedral, traces of which are still visible today.
• 1812 — During the Peninsular War, the famous Battle of Salamanca (Arapiles) takes place, ending in a victory for the allied forces over the Napoleonic army.
• 1988 — The historic city centre is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list for the exceptional preservation of its architectural ensemble.
• 2002 — Salamanca holds the honorary title of European Capital of Culture, confirming its status as a city of knowledge and arts.

Stages of Development and Their Significance

The evolution of Salamanca is a journey from a strategic fortress to a world-renowned centre of knowledge. The following key stages defined the modern appearance and status of the city:

• Medieval Repopulation (12th century). Under the leadership of Count Raymond of Burgundy, the city was repopulated and fortified with powerful walls.
  Significance: A radial street structure and division into parishes formed, laying the urban planning foundation of the historic centre that survives to this day.
• Founding of the University (1218). King Alfonso IX's decision to create a "Studium Generale" changed the fate of Salamanca forever.
  Significance: The city reoriented from an agrarian-military function to an economy of services and knowledge. The influx of students and professors from all over Europe stimulated the development of printing, accommodation rentals, and trade.
• Architectural Boom and "Golden Age" (15th–16th centuries). During this period, iconic buildings were erected: the University façade, the House of Shells, and the New Cathedral was begun.
  Significance: Salamanca acquired its unique visual code thanks to the Plateresque style. The use of local sandstone (villamayor), which acquires a golden hue over time, cemented its nickname "The Golden City".
• Urban Reform of the 18th Century. Construction of the Plaza Mayor in the Baroque style, designed by the Churriguera dynasty of architects.
  Significance: The creation of one of Europe's most harmonious squares gave the city a new public centre (an "urban living room"), uniting administrative, commercial, and social functions.
• Transport Modernisation (late 19th century). The arrival of the railway (1877) and the construction of bridges.
  Significance: Breaking out of geographic isolation and inclusion in the national trade network allowed for the export of agricultural produce and ensured the influx of the first travellers.
• Global Recognition (1988 and 2002). Inclusion of the old city in the UNESCO World Heritage list and receiving the status of European Capital of Culture.
  Significance: The final transition to a modern economic model based on cultural tourism and international education, which attracted significant investment in restoration and infrastructure.

Architectural Appearance and the "Golden Stone"

A unique feature of Salamanca, defining its urban appearance, is the use of local sandstone from the Villamayor quarries in construction. This stone, soft when quarried and hardening upon exposure to air, contains a high amount of iron. Thanks to this, at sunset, the city's buildings are painted in warm golden tones, earning Salamanca the unofficial name "La Dorada" (The Golden One).

The city developed radially from the Tormes River and the Old Cathedral, preserving a medieval maze of narrow streets in the historic centre, which contrasts with the wide avenues of the new districts.

Architectural Styles and Iconic Buildings

Salamanca is a veritable open-air textbook of architecture, where styles overlap, creating a harmonious ensemble.

• Roman Era and Engineering
  The urban axis around which the early city formed was the Roman Bridge (Puente Romano). It is an example of utilitarian and monumental architecture from the 1st century, retaining 15 original arches.
• Romanesque Style (12th–13th centuries)
  The era of the Reconquista and the strengthening of Christianity. Buildings of this period are characterised by massiveness, thick walls, and narrow windows, resembling fortresses.
  Iconic landmark: The Old Cathedral (Catedral Vieja) with its famous "Torre del Gallo" tower, the dome of which shows Byzantine influence.
• Gothic and Isabelline (15th–16th centuries)
  The late medieval period brought a striving for height, pointed arches, and complex ribbed vaults. The Spanish version of late Gothic (Isabelline style) added decorativeness.
  Iconic landmarks: The New Cathedral (Catedral Nueva) — one of the last Gothic cathedrals in Spain, and the House of Shells (Casa de las Conchas), the façade of which is adorned with more than 300 stone shells.
• Plateresque and Renaissance (16th century)
  Salamanca is the world capital of the Plateresque style (from the Spanish plata — silver). Architects decorated building façades with the finest stone carving, resembling the work of jewellers. This is the city's "calling card".
  Iconic landmark: Façade of the University of Salamanca. This is a masterpiece of stone carving, where tourists traditionally search for a hidden figure of a frog on a skull amidst the intricate ornamentation.
• Baroque and Churrigueresque (17th–18th centuries)
  During this period, the city acquired its main square and numerous church spires. The local variant of Baroque, named after the Churriguera family of architects, is distinguished by opulence, drama, and an abundance of detail.
  Iconic landmarks: Plaza Mayor — the heart of the city and, perhaps, the most harmonious square in Spain; the church and college of La Clerecía.
• Modernism (Art Nouveau) (19th–20th centuries)
  At the turn of the century, buildings using iron and glass appeared in the city, becoming a breath of fresh air amidst the stone classics.
  Iconic landmark: Casa Lis — an Art Nouveau mansion with an impressive stained-glass façade overlooking the river.

Distinguished Figures of Salamanca

For centuries, Salamanca has served as a magnet for the intellectual elite. Thanks to the university, people who changed the course of Spanish and world history lived, taught, and created here. Here are key figures whose names are inextricably linked with the city:

• Alfonso IX of León (1171–1230)
  King of León and founder of the university
  The monarch who made a fateful decision for the city. In 1218, he founded the "Studium Generale" here, transforming Salamanca from a military fortification into one of the main educational centres of Europe.
• Antonio de Nebrija (1441–1522)
  Humanist and philologist
  It was in Salamanca in 1492 that he published the first "Grammar of the Castilian Language". This work became the foundation of the modern Spanish language and the first grammar of a vernacular language in Europe.
• Abraham Zacuto (1452–1515)
  Astronomer and mathematician
  Professor of Astronomy at the University of Salamanca. He developed a perpetual almanac and improved the astrolabe. His calculations played a key role in the navigation of Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama.
• Francisco de Vitoria (1483–1546)
  Theologian and jurist
  Founder of the famous "School of Salamanca" and the father of international law. In his lectures, he was the first to formulate the concept of human rights, defending the dignity of the indigenous peoples of the New World.
• Fray Luis de León (1527–1591)
  Poet, theologian, and lecturer
  One of the greatest poets of the Spanish Renaissance. His statue adorns the square in front of the university. Known for the legendary phrase "As we were saying yesterday...", spoken at a lecture after four years of imprisonment by the Inquisition.
• Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936)
  Philosopher, writer, university rector
  A key figure of the "Generation of '98". Unamuno was elected rector of the University of Salamanca three times and became a true symbol of the city in the 20th century. His house-museum is now a popular attraction.
• Vicente del Bosque (born 1950)
  Football manager
  A native of Salamanca who became a legend of world sport. Under his leadership, the Spanish national team won the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history (2010) and defended the European Championship title (2012).