Salamanca is an ancient Celtic city in northwestern Spain that is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the community of Castile and León. The city lies on several hills by the Tormes River. With a metropolitan population of 228,881 in 2012 according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), Salamanca is the second most populated urban area in Castile and León, after Valladolid (414,000), and ahead of León (187,000) and Burgos (176,000). It is situated approximately 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of the Spanish capital Madrid and 80 km (50 miles) east of the Portuguese border.
The University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the fourth oldest western university, but the first to be given its status by the Pope Alexander IV who gave universal validity to its degrees. With its 30,000 students, it is one of the most important university cities in Spain and supplies 16% of Spain’s market for the teaching of the Spanish language. Salamanca attracts thousands of international students, generating a diverse and stimulating environment for academic study.
The Old City of Salamanca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Its architecture, cultural legacy, religious buildings, palaces, museums and palatial houses attract thousands of tourists every year, making of this city one of the most attractive sites in the country where visitors can enjoy culture and high-quality food at the same time.
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