ELIO ANTONIO DE NEBRIJA PARK

Salamanca, the “Golden City,” where Villamayor sandstone is omnipresent, has been transforming in recent decades into a green city, an increasingly citizen-friendly place. The urban area currently boasts approximately three hundred hectares of green spaces. Most of this large green area extends along the natural corridor located on both banks of the Tormes River.

One of the newly created spaces around the Tormes River is the “Elio Antonio de Nebrija Park”. It receives this name in homage to the famous grammar professor of our University, who published the first Grammar in the Castilian language in Salamanca in 1492. This park is located on the left bank of the Tormes River, in the section between the Roman Bridge and the Rodríguez Fabrés Bridge. The Zurguén Stream divides it into two parts, connected by a metal walkway that rises above the mouth of the Zurguén into the Tormes. It has an area of about 28 hectares that extends westward into the Salas Bajas sports area and, eastward, to the Enrique Estevan bridge. To the south, it extends through the Miguel Delibes Park.

All these parks and sports areas constitute one of the most important green spaces in the city of Salamanca. Meadows and rich riverside vegetation extend along both banks of the river, turning the vicinity of the Roman Bridge into one of the city's lungs. From here, there are magnificent views of the Teso de las Catedrales, but, being deciduous vegetation, the panorama changes extraordinarily with the seasons.

On the second Easter Monday, these meadows fill with young people who go down to the riverbank to celebrate Lunes de Aguas (Water Monday) by eating the typical hornazo. On that day, according to tradition, the prostitutes, who resided in Tejares, returned to Salamanca. They came back in boats in a peculiar procession presided over by the “Padre Putas” (Father of Whores). They celebrated their return by eating a bun filled with chorizo, ham, loin, and egg, products forbidden during Lent, a tradition that has been perpetuated in the Lunes de Aguas festival. During the city's patron saint festivals – San Juan de Sahagún and Virgen de la Vega – it is the chosen place to enjoy the fireworks. Festival, tradition, sport, and leisure come together to fill the riverbanks with life.

The park offers numerous leisure possibilities for citizens. From walking along its paths, cycling along the bike path that crosses it, or playing sports on its courts and athletics tracks.