Salamanca—one of Europe’s great university cities—is known for its golden sandstone architecture, lively plazas, and welcoming academic community. During your six-week summer residency at USAL, you will experience a vibrant blend of history, culture, and everyday Spanish life in a walkable, student-friendly city.
Whether you enjoy exploring historic neighborhoods, practicing your Spanish in real-world settings, or experiencing Spain’s food and festivals, Salamanca offers an unforgettable summer immersion. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with reliable public transportation and high-speed rail connections to major destinations like Madrid.
City Life & Culture
Salamanca—200 km from Madrid and 100 km from Portugal—is a UNESCO World Heritage City and the former European Capital of Culture. With a population of about 150,000, it blends centuries-old architecture with the vibrancy of a major university hub. As the home of the oldest university in Spain, Salamanca is known for its lively day-to-day energy and youthful nightlife shaped by students from around the world.
Food, Dining & Daily Living
Daily life in Salamanca is easy and enjoyable, with cafés, tapas bars, markets, libraries, and shops woven into the historic city center. Students can enjoy traditional dishes like hornazo, jamón ibérico, pinchos, and churros con chocolate, often at outdoor terraces perfect for conversation and relaxation. The city is highly walkable, with taxis and bus routes available for longer distances.
Immersion & Academic Experience
As a historic academic center, Salamanca offers an ideal environment for deepening your Spanish through daily interactions and cultural experiences. Students have access to USAL libraries, study spaces, faculty offices, campus Wi-Fi, and support from both USAL and JMU staff. Classes take place in USAL’s centrally located Facultad de Filología, and summer cultural programming—such as guided monument tours and the open-air “Fonseca Nights” music and performance series—further enrich your experience.
Travel & Exploration
Salamanca’s central location makes exploring Spain simple. Madrid is just 1.5–2 hours away by bus and about 3 hours by train, with coach and rail lines operating multiple daily departures. The nearest international airport is Madrid-Barajas (MAD), which connects easily to the city by metro, bus, or taxi. From Madrid, you can travel directly to Salamanca by coach or train. Once in the city, taxis from the station to housing are inexpensive. Many students take day or weekend trips to nearby historic cities such as Ávila, Segovia, and Zamora, as well as regional festivals and countryside excursions.
Apply by January 15
