College and univeristy buildings
The University of Salamanca is the second oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. It was founded in 1218 as a comprehensive school and later converted into a University by the wise Alfonso X in 1254.
Like Oxford or Cambridge, the University of Salamanca has several Halls of Residence. They were founded as charities that allowed poor students to receive a university education. Today many of these colleges remain, with the same function as before. Others have become faculties and part of the university. Today the University of Salamanca enjoys great prestige and is considered one of the most advanced research institutions.
The University buildings we see on entering the old town function differently today than they did 3 or 4 centuries ago. The oldest buildings and classrooms (like the one with the famous facade) are no longer are used for conferences, special academic events or sightseeing.
They have created many buildings around the old town, where today a great number of university classrooms are distributed (usually the Social and Natural Sciences are out of town, leaving inside the literal courses).
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