Submitted by Helena Garcia on the 2016 summer session program in Salamanca, Spain sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
The Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is the city’s most recognizable landmark and its lively center. “La Plaza” is aligned with restaurants, ice cream shops, bakeries and side streets that spread far out into the city from this epicenter. Passing through the Plaza at almost any time of day there are always people eating and conversing on the terraces, tourists taking photos and people just strolling through. Although the Plaza is busy during the day, it is nothing compared to when the lights are turned on as the sky darkens and cheers erupt because night has begun. At this time, there are groups of musicians playing at either end of the square, tables and restaurants filled to the brim, groups hanging out and sitting in the center and yet even more people taking photos of the stunning sight.
The Plaza Mayor, in all its glory, is not the only plaza in the city. Many of the old university buildings have this same open square area within their walls that help bring the outdoors in. After having seen this cloister, plaza like structure all throughout Spain in cities, classroom buildings, churches and monasteries, I decided to do some research into why this architecture is so prevalent in Spanish culture. From what I have gathered, this building scheme can be seen in Spain and its former colonies in a number of different architectural styles (Romanesque and Baroque to name a few) and is a way for the Spanish culture to make the outside feel like home. Plazas are colloquially known and treated as outdoor public living spaces and from what I have experienced, they serve just that purpose.
Additionally, the Spanish people seem to have a deep affection for the concept of home and often see it as a very private place for family. This in turn, in my opinion, is a really beautiful concept that the people of Spain treat their cities and centers of town as a home away from home. On the other hand, many of the cloisters seen in the monasteries and churches, although they serve as a way of bringing the outdoors in, they serve more to allow those who choose to live in isolation a chance to privately go outside. Whether religious or not, this concept of private versus public is something very hard to understand in Spanish culture where some things are considered inherently personal and others not so much. For an outsider, learning to navigate these subtle differences can be difficult and it is a little odd to see it reflected in the culture’s buildings and architecture.
However, despite these differences, the Salamantines and Spanish in general are very proud of their beautiful buildings that often give the illusion of stepping back in time. In Salamanca especially, the old parts of the city are the most integrated and celebrated in this public home life. This is evident in not just the Plaza Mayor, but also the university itself which is intertwined with cathedrals and landmarks. This integration is something I will deeply miss about my time in Salamanca, Spain, but I feel so lucky to have called this place and Plaza home for the past few weeks.
