Pictures from my car of Ávila (Castile and León, Spain) (July 2023)

=> Pictures from July 2023

Ávila (formerly called Ávila del Rey, Ávila de los Leales, and Ávila de los Caballeros) is a city and municipality in the province of Ávila, in Castile and León (Spain, Europe). It is the capital of the province of Ávila (the eponymous province) and is also considered the capital of the Ávila region and the subregion of Valle de Amblés. Additionally, it serves as the judicial district seat, being the judicial party no. 3 of the province of Ávila.

It has a population of 57,741 inhabitants (INE data 2023) (in 1857 it had barely about 6,606 inhabitants and by 1920 it had around 13,098 inhabitants) and an area of 231.9 km².

Ávila is a monumental city and a true museum-city that certainly deserves a visit. Moreover, due to its significant heritage value, UNESCO declared the city of Ávila a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Among its many varied monuments and places of interest are: the famous Walls of Ávila (built in the second half of the 12th century), the beautiful Cathedral of Ávila dedicated to San Salvador (built in the 12th century), the House of Butcheries, the famous Four Posts (or Humilladero de los Cuatro Postes), the Basilica of Santa Teresa de Jesús (and the Birthplace-Museum of Santa Teresa de Jesús), the Basilica of San Vicente, the Royal Monastery of Santo Tomás, the Monastery of the Incarnation, the House of the Deans, the Plaza del Mercado Chico (or Plaza Mayor) with the Town Hall building, the Palace of Superunda, the Interpretation Center of Mysticism, the Palace of Velada, the Convent of Santa María de Jesús, the Hermitage of the Virgen de Sonsoles, the UCAV (Catholic University of Ávila), the Palace of Dávila, the Tower of Guzmanes, the Roman Bridge of Ávila crossing the Adaja River, etc.

Additionally, there are more modern and avant-garde buildings and places of interest such as: the Lienzo Norte Exhibition and Congress Center, the Academy and National School of the National Police, the El Bulevar Shopping and Leisure Center (with Carrefour Hypermarket), the Soto Natural Park (along the banks of the Adaja River), the Renfe train station of Ávila and the Ávila Bus Station, the production Plant and Center of NISSAN in Ávila, the large San Antonio Park, the 4-star National Parador of Ávila, the modern and avant-garde Visitor Reception Center of Ávila (Ávila Tourism Office), the Provincial Museum of Ávila, the beautiful Fuentes Claras Reservoir, etc.

Today, Ávila has a total of 4 patron saints: 1 patron saint (San Segundo) and 3 patronesses (the Virgen de Sonsoles, Santa Teresa de Jesús, and the Virgen de la Soterraña); and their feast days for each patron saint are: May 2 (San Segundo), July 2 (Virgen de Sonsoles), October 15 (Santa Teresa de Jesús), and September 8 (Virgen de la Soterraña); with the two most important being those of Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Segundo.

The abulense municipality (or aviles), besides the city of Ávila, also has several other population centers (parishes): Aldea del Rey Niño, Alamedilla del Berrocal, Bernuy-Salinero, Brieva, Narrillos de San Leonardo, Urraca-Miguel, and Vicolozano.

In summary, Ávila is a monumental city that has managed to preserve its numerous monuments and famous walls almost intact for centuries. A city that awaits to be visited by everyone. Come to Ávila, the city of walls and the birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús!