Douro River Cruise - Salamanca, Spain - October 2023.

Salamanca is the biggest city and the capital of Salamanca province in the northwest region of Spain. From Vega de Terron dock, it took about a little over two hours by bus to Salamanca history center.

Church in Fregenda, the first village in Spain after crossing the border.

The Iberian plateau, the biggest plateau in Europe after passing the International Valley.

Salamaca Old City Center - Plaza Mayor Square

Plaza Mayor is a large plaza located in the historic center of Salamanca and used as a public square. From here, we took a walking tour of the Old City of Salamanca, an UNESCO World Heritage Center.  

A bakery in Plaza Mayor square.

St. Martin church with the nest on top.

House of the Shells - the facade decorated with more than 300 shells, the symbol of the order of Santiago, and of the pilgrims on "the Way of St. James".
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Main attraction just outside of the Plaza Mayor is the Univeristy of Salamanca, Spain's first institution of higher learning. Founded in the 13th century, it was one of the four great world universities, along with the universities of Oxford, Paris and Bologna. Although today some of the new faculties are located in the outskirts of Salamanca, many of them are still located in the historic center.

The old university of Salamanca. It's like a cathedral.

The university courtyard. 

California redwood tree in the center of the university.

Symbol: Victory to celebrate when a person passed doctorial degree. He or she can engrave his/her name and the year along with Victory symbol. 

Lecture room- two languages: Latin and Hebrew.

The university Chapel, a former library.

The old library facade.


The present university library.

The university square.

Plaza de Anaya with the new cathedral.

The "new" catherdral in Plaza de Anaya is one of the largest in Spain.

Walking back to Plaza Mayor.








The "Camino de Santiago" leads through Plaza Mayor.


Shops at Plaza Mayor.

Restaurants at Plaza Mayor.


Having popular drink and snack of Salamanca: chocolate, coffee and churros.


The covered market at Plaza Mayor.

The meat and deli department.


Leaving Salamanca Old City - Plaza del Concilio de Trento with Convent of St. Stephen in background.


Salamanca sandstrone used to preserve the lower part of the buildings.


Roman Bridge.

Stork nest on top of the church.

A historic La Fregeneda village.

Village for people working on the mines. Franco was allied with Hitler at the time. Many died young after exposing to the mines.

The bridge back to Portugal crossing Agueda River.

Our ship, Ms Douro Cruiser docked at Barca D'Alva pier tonight.

Barca D'Alva pier ( in Portugal) with Almirante Sarmento Rodrigues Bridger, also known as the Highway Bridge of Barca D'Alva, over the Douro river. The two ships seen in the picture are in Spain.

Our ship is in Portugal side.

                                                     A Rosa Alva ship coming to dock.

View of the bridge from our cabin.