<page_title> List of oldest universities in continuous operation </page_title> <section_title> Founded before 1500 </section_title> <table> <cell> University of Salamanca <col_header> University </col_header> <col_header> Current </col_header> </cell> <cell> Spain Salamanca, Spain <col_header> Location </col_header> </cell> <cell> The oldest university in the Hispanic world. The university claims to have been founded by Alfonso IX of León in 1218 (although James Trager's People's Chronology sets its foundation date as 1134), making it the third or fourth oldest university in continuous operation. <col_header> Notes </col_header> </cell> </table>
The University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest western university.