Photos from my car of Ávila (Castilla y León) (July 2023)

=> Photos from July 2023

Ávila (formerly known as Ávila del Rey, Ávila de los Leales, and Ávila de los Caballeros) is a city and municipality in the province of Ávila, in Castilla y León (Spain, Europe). It is the capital of the province of Ávila (the namesake province) and is also considered the capital of the Ávila region and the subregion of the Valle de Amblés. It is also the head of the judicial district, being judicial district No. 3 of the province of Ávila.

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

Ávila is a monumental city and a genuine city-museum that is definitely worth a visit. However, due to its great heritage value, UNESCO declared the city of Ávila as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Among its many monuments and places of interest are: the famous Walls of Ávila (constructed 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 the Butcheries, the famous Cuatro Postes (or Humilladero de los Cuatro Postes), the Basilica of Santa Teresa de Jesús (and Birthplace-Museum of Santa Teresa de Jesús), the Basilica of San Vicente, the Real Monasterio de 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 the Superunda, the Interpretation Center of Mysticism, the Palace of the Velada, the Convent of Santa María de Jesús, the Hermitage of the Virgin of Sonsoles, the UCAV (Catholic University of Ávila), the Palace of the Dávila, the Guzmanes Tower, the Roman Bridge of Ávila over 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 National Police Academy and School, the El Bulevar Commercial and Leisure Center (with Carrefour Hypermarket), the Natural Park of El Soto (along the riverbank of the Adaja River), the Renfe station of Ávila and the Ávila Bus Station, the NISSAN Production Plant and Center in Ávila, the large San Antonio Park, the National Parador of Ávila (4 stars), the modern and avant-garde Visitors 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 Virgin of Sonsoles, Santa Teresa de Jesús, and the Virgin of La Soterraña); and their patronal festivals for each saint are: May 2 (San Segundo), July 2 (Virgin of Sonsoles), October 15 (Santa Teresa de Jesús), and September 8 (Virgin of La Soterraña); with the two most important and principal being those of Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Segundo.

The municipality of Ávila, besides the city of Ávila, also has several other population centers (hamlets): 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!