The next time you sit down to plan a foodie trip away, make sure you put Salamanca in Spain at the very top of your list. Known as the Golden City, it’s a wonderful place to holiday for culture vultures, whether it’s food at the top of your agenda, the stunning architecture or simply the beautiful weather.
You’ll find this wonderful metropolis 212km or so outside Madrid, with all sorts to see and do, from the 18th century Plaza Mayor Square (one of the most beautiful to be found in Spain and originally intended to host bullfights) to the Cathedral of Salamanca. This is actually two churches that have been joined together – the old cathedral that dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, and the newer one dating from the 16th century.
But if there’s nothing you love more than sampling local produce and trying out new dishes while on a trip away, Salamanca is the perfect destination to discover all sorts amazing Spanish food. Central Spain is famed for its amazing fare, whether you want to try local cherries and figs, incredible cheeses, beef, strawberries… you name it, you can find it here!
While in the city, you simply can’t go home again without first trying some hornazo – a pastry that comes chockful of egg, bacon, ham and sausage. It’s traditionally eaten on Easter Monday but you can find it throughout the year so there’s no need to panic that you won’t be able to sample it.
There are all sorts of other traditional delicacies to try as well, so don’t just draw the line at hornazo. Don’t forget to taste-test Paloma, which is made up of a fried wheat crust that’s wrapped around some Russian salad. It’s usually served cold and you’re sure to find them in the majority of cafes and tapas bars throughout the year.
Or what about jeta, a simple but delicious dish of roasted pork cheeks that come in easy bitesize portions and served with veggies like fried potatoes and red peppers.
For those who have a sweet tooth and love nothing more than pudding time, your tastes are more than catered for in Salamanca as well. If you’re there over the Christmas period, look out for perrunillas, Spanish cookies that are instantly recognisable thanks to their beautiful golden colour and the chunky almond nestled right in the middle. Yum!
There’s also doughnuts of Ledesma, which were first seen in the eponymous ancient town that’s just outside Salamanca itself. Pop into a local cake shop or bakery and you’re sure to see these lovely little round sweets on the counter somewhere. The recipe hasn’t been changed for centuries so you know you’re onto a winner.
As for restaurants, head to TripAdvisor to see some recommendations of where to eat. You can browse by local cuisine on the site so it’s easy to find somewhere you think you’d like to eat. Make sure you read the reviews so you know what to expect!