The walled town.
For centuries, the image of Ávila has been linked to that of its walls. The beauty and impressive view clearly mark memories of the town.
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It was called 'Avela' in Roman times. Following the Muslim occupation, it became definitively Christian when it was taken by Raimundo de Borgoña, son-in-law of Alfonso VI. It is mainly known as the birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús. Many specialists argue that Ávila is one of the best preserved medieval walled towns in the world. It was Raimundo de Borgoña himself who began constructing the walls in the year 1090. Their size is imposing, a fact that is demonstrated by a perimeter of almost two and a half kilometres, a height of twelve metres and an average thickness of three metres. They have 88 towers, 6 gateways and 3 gates. The apse of the cathedral is inserted into the defensive wall as another large tower and it is known by the name of 'Cimorro'.
The town's monuments are not limited to the walls. It has a cathedral - one of the most atypical in Spain - more like a fortification than a cathedral in the true sense of the word. The Basilica of San Vicente, originally from the 12th century and finished in the 13th, has three doors in a beautiful Romanesque style. It also has several churches whose towers and bell-towers are scattered along the skyline of the town: San Pedro, San Andrés, San Segundo, San Juan, Santiago, etc.
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 | UNESCO
World Heritage | | (Year of registration: 1985) |
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| Surrounding area | | | | The whole city houses many corners of great artistic value. The Sierra de Gredos lies not too far away. This is one of the most important natural spaces on the Peninsula.
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