Friday, July 20, 2012

Sunny Salamanca - Part 3

This is the facade of the other university in Salamanca, the esteemed but lesser-known Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca.



Following the gincana, the students went on a brief walking tour to see some of places they learned about in their culture class. The first stop? La casa de conchas, a 15th century home that is reconized for its distinct appearance, featuring more than 300 shells on its exterior. The home, located across from the Universidad Pontificia, was originally created as a monument to Santiago de Compostela (hence the scallop shell, which is the symbol most commonly associated with the Camino of Santiago that many pilgrims and tourists alike take each year).


There are many folklores associated with the Casa, but the students were most interested in the one that alluded to gold being hidden under some of the shells. I think I saw a few hands go up when I asked if there was anyone who was willing to spend a few more hours in the salamantino sun to try and find it. :)

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