Salamanca was famous during the Renaissance due to its university, it was actually one of the first in Europe.
In Salamanca, the inhabitants speak the purest Spanish in Spain, Castilian. For this reason Salamanca is enormously popular with people from all over the world who want to learn Spanish.
The city is exceptionally beautiful and has many architectural treasures, such as its two cathedrals, one Romanesque and the other Gothic, standing side by side.
The central square, Plaza Mayor, is considered to be one of the country's most peaceful and beautiful squares. Writer James Michener rated it one of the three greatest plazas in the world. The city's other buildings feature a mixture of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque styles.