The Golden City in Spain

Writing Assignment 1-Draft

Descriptive Writing

The Golden City in Spain

Salamanca, a city full of scholars and antiqueness, is located at the northwestern part of Spain. The­­­ city is called the Golden City in Spain as it is composed of spectacular architectures and antique heritage sites which worth lots of fortune. These are the true beauty in Spain which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The Plaza Mayor in Salamanca is one of the most beautiful in Spain. The four walls surrounding the square were built in stone, more specifically in sandstone. When the morning sun shines on the plaza, rays of gold gleams through the walls, it is shiny enough to make you squeeze your eyes. The plaza is always full of people, no matter day or night. It is a popular meeting spot for teenagers. They talk, chat, dance and sing all in the Plaza Mayor. They lay down on the stone floor of the plaza, chatting about their university life, gossiping the girls or boys in other classes, debating the issues happening in Spain, “tunas” singing in the middle of the plaza. What teenagers do is totally different from the elderly. They sit on the benches surrounding the main square with their favorite ice cream, then listen to the youth’s laughter and chatter and watch tourists taking group photos and posing funny expression. Simply the most leisure thing to do in the world but maybe that is why they are always happy.

The fortune of Salamanca is more than you think. The New and Old Cathedral, the University of Salamanca and the house of shells are the most reputable architectures in Salamanca. The detailed and delicate carved stone buildings attract thousands of tourists to visit Salamanca every year. Towers, domes, ceilings, pillars are all craved out of stones, sturdily stand on top of the cathedral. The whole cathedral is full of holiness and antiqueness. Inside the cathedral, the neatly arranged benches and exquisite stained glass give people a peaceful feeling, creating a sacred atmosphere.

There are different holy creatures sculpted on the outer walls of these magnificent architectures, with the carve man’s detailed carving, the creatures is so lively and real. The spaceman, the dragon with an ice cream, rabbit and monster are all resting on the wall and watch the lives of people in Salamanca. The wall of the University is full of stories, the most famous one is the frog on the skull. If students can find it out of tons of other sculpture, they can pass the exam and graduate. The skull represents the sick prince who had not graduated before he died and the frog is the doctor who took care of the prince at that time. It was a sad story but this later became a fortunate symbol in the university.

In my point of view, Salamanca is an old but lively city. With all those amazing and grand architectures and the friendly people in the neighborhood, this golden city has hidden many treasures for people to find out. If you have time and want to engage yourself into a historical city, Salamanca is your choice.