Salamanca, Barcelona, o Valencia?
 

I'll be studying abroad next fall as a junior in order to complete a minor in Spanish as well as explore a European country, and my options are Salamanca, Barcelona, and Valencia. Where should I go? I go to college in a complete college town, but I'm originally from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, so a big city, but nothing gargantuan. Any thoughts?

In both Barcelona and Valencia Catalan is spoken in the streets tho' Castilian Spanish is also spoken. Salamanca would be better, but there are so many foreigners studying there that you'll have to be careful not to spend all your time with them !

Daughter loved Salamanca. (and so did I) It is great when family is off to school in exotic places and you are welcomed to come and stay awhile.. The energy in the town is really something and she had no trouble fitting in with the locals either. It was an awesome experience. Barcelona is a large city and the lingua is Catalan not Castilian as stated above.You will probably find it easier in Salamanca to get aclimatized (sp??) and more homey than Barcelona. Salamanca is handy to Madrid (2hrs bus or train) lots of local tapas establishments and cheaper than the larger cities. Have a great time..

I studied in Salamanca and loved it. The city seemed big enough to get lost in but small enough to walk. The university also did a great job of organizing trips every weekend, and it was such a polished program. The city is a UNESCO World HEritage site I believe...just beautiful. Can't recommend it enough. Barcelona is just a totally different feel, though wonderful in its own right, of course. Salamanca is well known for its language instruction. I'm a fan :)

Salamanca (where I studied) .. the purist Spanish.

Barcelona.. the most Catalán and most expensive of all three.

Valencia a mixture of both but nothing as obvious with Valenciano as in Barcelona with Catalán.

Best weather year round.. with accessible beach on tram 10 minutes from the university.. (theTarongers campus): Valencia hands down.