Evening 6: Salamanca

Clare and I are weighing up whether Salamanca is the most beautiful location we've ever visited. It's not really possible to compare with something so different as the stunning lakes at Plitvice but it's very similar architecturally to the fairytale Albi and we think it might just have it beaten on the basis that there's more here. It's so pretty that we found even more to photograph on our evening stroll, hence this second blog entry for the same day.

Our apartment is placed a two-minute walk away from the southern limit of the old town, and so we decided to venture outside and head towards the Río Tormes, crossing over one of the bridge that spans it. Looking back towards the old town showed the cathedral rising above the skyline.

We soon came across another pretty church. Nothing particularly novel in that, except that this one was on the other side of the river.

For variety's sake we elected to walk around the outside of the old town instead of going back in the way we came. Not surprisingly, the cathedral loomed over the city walls and the local residences.

Unbeknownst to us we'd soon chance upon a convent.

We returned home just in time to catch the sight of the sun setting on the cathedral.

The sun sets rather quickly here and so before long night had fallen and I went on another stroll armed with my camera whilst Clare went to bed. Salamanca seems equally as beautiful when there's a black sky as when there's a blue one.

Our old friend the cathedral is still stunning when viewed from the bridge over the Río Tormes.

And it's beautiful up close too.

The sight of domes rising above the streets is all the more impressive against the black backdrop.

I was spoilt for choice with beautiful photos taken that evening:

So, is Salamanca the most beautiful place we've ever been to? On balance, it probably is, but then again we've been fortunate enough to visit many places which challenge it for the crown. We'd certainly be very happy to come back and see it again one day.