University of Salamanca, Spain: Cultural Activities
Salamanca may be the ultimate European college town, but your experience should by no means end at the city walls. The glory of Spain is waiting to be discovered and the following included activities have been created specifically to expand your appreciation of Spain and its place in European history. View the natural wonders of the nearby mountains, visit the historical sites that give Spain the greatest pride and have fun with your fellow students. Visit art exhibitions, participate in cooking classes and attend jazz concerts in the open air!
Depending on the interests of the students on campus, a variety of additional cultural activities can be arranged throughout the course of your stay.
5-day stopover in London and Madrid
Depart from the United States and arrive in London, one of the world’s most exciting capitals. Meet your AIFS representative and transfer to your accommodation. At the welcome dinner you will get the chance to meet your fellow students. The next morning a local guide will show you the splendors of London on a guided tour. See Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. On day three, bid farewell to London and board a flight for Madrid.
The next morning, watch Madrid’s rich heritage come alive on a guided city tour. View classic boulevards and fountains, then feast on world acclaimed art by El Greco, Goya and Velazquez at the Prado. See the Puerta del Sol, the famous Don Quixote statue, the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor. The following morning leave Madrid for El Escorial. Inside the sumptuously detailed chamber of the monastery, see where many of Spain’s past monarchs are buried. Continue to Franco’s Valley of the Fallen, built in the 1950s to honor the dead of the Spanish Civil War. Continue on to Salamanca.
Accommodations, airport transfers, breakfasts, dinners, the sightseeing tour and entrance fees are all included in your program fee.
Welcome Reception in Salamanca
Get to know your fellow students and plan for the summer ahead at a welcome reception hosted by AIFS and the University of Salamanca. Enjoy refreshments and pizza, and experience your first authentic tapas!
Day visit to Segovia and La Granja
Travel to Segovia to see one of Spain’s most recognized sights—and Segovia’s trademark—the ancient Roman aqueduct. Two thousand years old and still functional, the aqueduct and the Roman engineering required to build it remain striking. Walk through cobblestone streets toward the fairytale castle, El Alcazar; from its tower, enjoy great views of Segovia and the storks’ nests that are scattered among chimneys and church spires. Continue to La Granja, home of Spain’s answer to the Palace of Versailles. See it’s beautiful gardens and Rococo architecture before returning to Salamanca.
Plaza Mayor and University Walking Tour
Learn more about the long tradition of learning in Salamanca on a walking tour with a local guide. Begin at the Plaza Mayor, considered by many to be the most beautiful square in Spain. See the Old Cathedral, a good example of Romanesque architecture, and the New Cathedral with its variety of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Continue to the Casa de las Conchas—The House of Shells—decorated with 400 scallop shells that are carved out of the same golden stone as its walls. Study the ornate entrance to the Old University, considered a masterwork of Plateresque style, before your tour is over.
16th Century Architecture and
Museo de Salamanca Walking Tour
Join a local guide on a walking tour of some of Salamanca’s most beautiful religious sites, the church of San Esteban and Las Dueñas cloistered convent. It is said that Christopher Columbus debated with the Dominicans over the best route to the Indies inside the elaborately ornate San Esteban. Look for the Cloister of the Kings, both Plateresque and Gothic in style. Continue to one of the most popular sights in Salamanca, the Las Dueñas convent. Eat delicious sweets prepared for you by the nuns! Finish the day at the Museo de Salamanca, a fine arts museum specializing in painting, sculpture and archeological items.
Spanish Cooking Class with Professional Cooks
Don’t return home without learning how to prepare your own authentic tapas! Gather with your fellow students to learn about the cultural influences of Spanish cuisine and find out how to make different types of dishes yourself.
Swimming Pass
In the afternoons, cool off at the local swimming pool. Half the cost of a swimming pass is included. If you choose not to swim, this stipend will be applied to other cultural activities.
Farewell Evening
Celebrate the end of classes with a Spanish fiesta! Relive your summer memories with Spanish food, music and dancing. Be sure to get the addresses of your fellow classmates so you can keep in touch!
Optional Excursion to Portugal ($395)
Afternoon departure from Salamanca for Lisbon. In the evening you will have free time to explore the town. The next morning, you will visit the sights of Lisbon with a local guide. View the Monument of the Discoverers, Alfama district, Rossio Square, St. George’s Castle and Jeronimos Monastery. Free afternoon to wander the cobbled alleys and squares of old Lisbon. On Sunday, morning excursion to the Portuguese coast at Estoril and the fishing village of Cascais. Continue on to the hillside town of Sintra for shopping and sightseeing. Return to Salamanca.
Fees for this excursion include accommodations, transportation, breakfast, sightseeing and entrances as indicated. Students must enroll and pay for this excursion by April 30. Students who apply after the deadline may enroll subject to availability. If a minimum enrollment of 10 is not achieved, the trip may be cancelled. Once paid for in the U.S. optional excursions are non-refundable.
