University of Salamanca and the frog

Founded in 1218, the University of Salamanca is one of the oldest in Europe. Its plateresque façade on the Patio de Escuelas is carved like lace, with portraits, coats of arms and mythical figures. Somewhere in the carving is a small frog sitting on a skull: legend says students who spot it will pass their exams. Ask a local for a hint, or look for the tourists pointing.

Inside, visit the old lecture hall of Fray Luis de León, with its original wooden benches, and the historic library. Across the street, the Casa de las Conchas is a 15th-century palace covered in more than 300 stone scallop shells; it's now a public library you can visit for free.