Avila in the Province of Castile & Leon

In the middle of a flat, arid landscape in the province of Castile and Leon, the city of Avila (built on top of a rocky hill which rises abruptly out of the ground) is well known as being the highest provincial capital in Spain at 1117 metres above sea level. The high mountain ranges which enclose the region are the cause of the extremes of climate – hard, long winters and a very short summer.

It has some of the best preserved medieval city walls of any Spanish city although much of the city lies outside the walls’ perimeter. The wall circles the entire ‘old’ city and with its eighty eight towers and nine gateways, the most famous and spectacular being Alcázar's gate, is a ‘must visit’ when in the region as the view from the top is spectacular.

As Ávila is the seat of a Bishop, there are more than a few church buildings of interest, such as the Gothic cathedral which has the outward appearance of a fortress, having battlement styled walls and two solid towers. This has sculptures and paintings of great interest displayed inside.

Priscillian, the first Christian to be executed for heresy, was born in Ávila although the town is more renowned for the Carmelite reformer, St. Teresa of Ávila, who lived there twelve centuries later.

Traditionally, the Isabelline Gothic monastery of Santo Tomás, which was finally completed in 1493 during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, was the summer residence of the Spanish Royal Family.

The city came into its own with an economic boom occurring during the 16th century due to its importance as a centre of wool production. During this booming period, many of the civil and religious buildings, which still stand in the historic quarter, were built.

Cuisine of the Town

Ávila is typical of towns in the province of Old Castile in that its local speciality dishes include delicious roast lamb, suckling pig, and veal T-bone steak. Ávila is also famous for its yemas de Santa Teresa - sweets made from egg yolk which are named after the patron saint.

Museums

• Museo de la Catedral

• Museo de Art Oriental

• Museo del Monasterio de la Encarnación - Museum of the Encarnación Monastery

• Museo Provincial de Ávila - Ávila Provincial Museum

• Iglesia de Santo Tomé el Viejo - Santo Tomé el Viejo Church

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