European Capital of Culture

In the assembly of the Culture Secretaries of the European Union which took place in Brussels on the 28th of May 1998, it was officially decided the designation of Salamanca as a European City of Culture 2002 after having taken into consideration its qualities as a university town, open and hospitable as well as its historic and artistic richness which made the UNESCO declare this city as Heritage of Humanity.

The old part of this town of encounters and wise men, great thinkers on science and humanities make up an exceptional mosaic and network of cathedrals with the Palaces of Monterrey and Fonseca, the "Shell house", the Clavero tower, the Plaza Mayor and the convents of San Esteban and Dueñas. All this heritage is enriched by the university nature of the town with the oldest university in Spain

Centro Internacional de Arte
Plaza España, 5-6
Edificio España
Salamanca 37004
Tel: +34 923 228888
Fax: +34 923 233056

This gallery is particularly remarkable for holding different temporary exhibitions every month, which is something that not many other exhibition halls can do. This recently opened gallery usually offers monographic exhibitions featuring the works by international artists.
Paintings, sculptures, engravings… what more could you ask for? You can admire original graphic work by Picasso, Saura and Alberti, canvases by Antonio Cáceres and sculptures by Álvarez Ilzarbe and much more. They always display contemporary art and some abstract and representational works.
This gallery is closed during August and it takes part in the ARCALE, the International Contemporary Art Fair of Castilla y León.

Open Hours: 6-9pm Mon-Fri; midday-2pm Sat
Nearest transportation: Bus: 1, 3, 4

Teatro Juan del Enzina

El Tostado, s/n
Facultad de Filología
Salamanca 37008
Tel: +34 923 294592

This theatre belongs to the University of Salamanca, and it is the place where they offer the largest amount of shows throughout the year. It is also a venue for the ?Cultural Salamanca?, a series of shows that take place regularly and that feature the most successful and the latest plays, dance and music concerts in Spain. They also hold events for university students.
There are 400 unnumbered seats, which are never enough due to the theatre's interesting prices. They offer, in fact, the lowest prices in Castilla y León, attracting a very young audience.
The theatre is ideally located in the building housing the School of Philology, right in the center of the old city, next to the cathedrals, the Las Dueñas Convent, the Patio de Escuelas and many, many other interesting places and monuments.
Admission: 4 or 6 euros; 'Carnet Joven' youth card holders receive a 20% discount

Nearest transportation: Bus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9

Feria Municipal del Libro

Concejalía de Cultura (Ayuntamiento de Salamanca)
Plaza Mayor, 1
Salamanca 37002
Tel: +34 923 279100
Fax: +34 923 279114

Lots of special free events are organized by various responsible bodies to entertain and educate the public during this week-long book festival at the beginning of May. The main venue is the plaza Mayor where you'll find stalls selling books, children's theatre performances and live music. You can listen all sorts of music from to jazz to classical, hear famous writers talk about their work, watch international puppet theatre companies perform and see movies in the Filmoteca.

Dates: 5-13/05/2001

Open Hours: Day and night
Nearest transportation: Bus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9

Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions of Castile and Leon

It is one of the newest constructions raised in the city. The project is work of architect Juan Navarro and its construction was finished in 1992. A result of its construction, many houses had to be demolished in a city renovation process.

Other buildings:

Teatro Liceo
Multiusos Sánchez Paraíso
Centro de Artes Escénicas