Universidad de Salamaca is the oldest university in Spain (est. 1230) and one of the three oldest in the world. It is the alma mater of numbers of historical characters, including Columbus, who came here to learn more about geography. That statue which you see is Fray Luis de León.

This picture shows the front of the entrance into the library, one of the major tourist attractions in town. It is decorated in what is called Plateresque style, which is so intricate that it looks like silverwork. Carlos V. was responsible for the facade. The university buildings were built with funds granted by Ferdinand and Isabel who felt the university should have buildings that matched its reputation. Most of the buildings are built in Renaissance style, although the modern parts of the campus are almost all latter 20th century in architecture. Note that the buildings are built of the beautiful sandstone for which the area is famous. That's what the backgrounds of these pages represent, as well.