Also referred to as the ‘Town of Saints and Stones’, the Spanish city of Avila was founded in in the 11th century to protect Spanish territories from the Moorish attacks. The most prominent person from the area is St. Teresa. It is also the burial place of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada. The grandness of the old town can still be seen in the Gothic Cathedral with its fortifications that features 82 semicircular towers and nine gates. Amazingly, the fortifications are the most complete in Spain.

Avila is located in the autonomous region of Castile and Leon. It also happens to be the capital of the Province of Avila. Another astounding fact about the town is the fact that it is home to the highest concentration of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain.

The town of Avila is noteworthy for having complete and prominent medieval town walls that was built in Romanesque style. Other names used in reference to the town include the ‘Avila of the Knights’ and the ‘King and the Loyalists’.

In his book, El Alma Castellana, Jose Martinez described the town as ‘perhaps the most 16th century town in Spain’. The town was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985

Points of Interest in the Town

• Museums – The town is home to several museums including; Museum of Ávila, Museum of la Encarnación, Museum of Santa Teresa, Museum of the Cathedral, Museo of Santo Tomás etc.
• The Conference and Exhibition Centre Lienzo Norte
• Fiesta des Santa Teresa
• The Valderrábanos Palace (15th century)
• The Casa de los Deanes (16th century)
• The Torreón de los Guzmanes
• The Verdugos Palace
• Santuario de Nuestra Senora de sonsoles
• Real Monasterio de Santo Tomas
• Palacio de Don Diego del Aguila
• Ermita de San Segundo
• Iglesia de San Pedro
• Convento de San Jose
• Basilica de San vincente
• The Cathedral of Avila
• The Walls of Avila

The town of Avila is renowned for its gastronomy. If you are looking for a town that will spoil you with food, perhaps you should head to Avila. Among its most renowned delicacies include Judías del Barco, Chuletón de Ávila, Patatas revolconas, Bun stuffed with sausage, bacon, steak and eggs and Yemas de Santa Teresa among others. The town will be worth every cent that you will spend within its confines.