Ávila de los Caballeros, located in the south of the now Autonomous Community of Castilla & León is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.
Ávila is a museum town full of architectural wonders that doesn’t fail to impress those from more industrialised areas.
The city is of such value to the cultural and artistic value that, in 1985, Ávila was declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.
Its narrow streets are full of palaces, churches and monasteries; history’s ghosts forming spectral crowds that mill around with each new street that is discovered by the expectant visitor.
The monumental centre of Ávila is much as it was some five hundred years ago, long before the efficient network of communication made it easy to get to from just about any part of Spain.
And the added bonus of this city is that it is the gateway to the Sierras de Gredos, the mountain chain that rises in the southern part of the province and provides a backdrop of the some of the most spectacular and unspoilt scenery that can be seen anywhere in Spain.
Ávila is the highest capital city of Spain. Constructed at an altitude of 1,100 metres, in winter the wind whips snow and ice through the streets, while in summer, the city basks in a mild to warm temperature and rainfall is low.
Built on the flat summit of a rocky hill, the city is located in the middle of a granitic wilderness; a treeless landscape strewn with immense granite boulders
As it is almost enveloped by tall mountains, Ávila’s climate is typically continental, with long, hard winters and short yet warm summers.
The walled enclosure dates back to the Middle Ages and was constructed to control access of provisions and merchandise. It also isolated the city, providing a barrier against the potential outbreak of a plague or epidemic, in addition to its obvious defensive function.
It is shaped like an irregular rectangle, with crenulated towers and round turrets. It has nine gates that provided access to the city, of which the most impressive is the Gate of Alcázar.
The city walls of Avila are constructed from the local granite, and possess eighty-six towers and nine gateways, all of which are in excellent repair.
As the city has long been an important bishopric, it is home to several religious buildings of great interest.
The Gothic cathedral, thought to date from the early 12th century, is built like a fortress with crenulated walls and two impressive towers.
It contains many interesting sculptures and paintings dating from early Christianity.
The churches of San Vicente, San Pedro, Santo Tomas and San Segundo are all Romanesque in conception. Dating for the most part from the 15th century, some parts of the beautiful San Vicente and of San Pedro churches are thought to be as old as the 12th century.
Ávila was the home of Santa Teresa of Avila, the Carmelite nun who had such a profound influence on reform of the church. As recognition of this influence, the convent and church of Santa Teresa mark the birthplace of the saint.
Ávila is a city in which to lose yourself; to spend time visiting the many monuments and breathing in the atmosphere of unbroken human history.
It is recommended that you take at least three days to explore all the potential of the city itself and a further week visiting the rest of the province whose scenery and cultural diversity will leave you wanting much more.
Popular Fiestas of Ávila
Fiestas de la Santa
8-15 of October. Everything you could want from a popular fiesta and festival takes place during this one. There are processions, carnivals with large heads depicting famous and infamous people, competitions, bull fighting and fireworks. A must for the whole family.
Virgen de Sonsoles
The festival takes place on the second Sunday of October and is in honour of the patron saint of the Valley of Ambles. There are two romerías, or pilgrimages; the small and the large ones. The large one is organised by the cofradias (associations linked to the local church) of the Valley of the Amblés and the Sierracilla and consists of a pilgrimage to the hermitage and to which everyone from Ávila and the surrounding villages goes to. The main event is the traditional dancing that involves winding and unwinding a flag in front of the image of the Virgin.
More information
http://www.diputacionavila.es/
http://www.tuavila.com/
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