Madrid Excursions to Avila

(Madrid, Spain)

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Ávila

Ávila is Spain's highest provincial city being approximately 1,130 metres / 3,706 feet above sea level. It sits against the backdrop of the Sierra de Ávila, on a ridge that overlooks the Río Adaja (River Adaja) and a craggy plain. Iberian tribes established the city before it was integrated into the Celtic culture and eventually Romanised and Christianised. Ávila is the celebrated birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús (St. Theresa of Jesus) 1515 to 1582. Santa Teresa was born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, a noblewoman who became a nun at the Convento de la Concepción (Convent of the Conception) at the age of eighteen. Santa Teresa was revered for her writings, first published in 1588, and mystical visions.

Renowned for its harsh winters, Ávila is also famous for its medieval Las Murallas (town walls), the best-maintained example to be found in Europe. Until the fall of Toledo in 1085 to Alfonso VI, Ávila frequently changed hands for 300 years between Muslims and Christians. In later centuries the city was to become a significant centre for commerce.

Facts about Ávila

• Population: approximately 32,000
• Location: approximately 112 km / 70 miles north-west of Madrid
• Nearest railway station: Chamartín
• By car: Take N-VI or A-6 tollway to Villacastin, then head south-west on the N-110. Alternatively, take M-505 / C-505 via El Escorial, branch off N-VI just before Las Rozas
• Tourist information - Plaza de la Catedral 4, Tel: +34 91 920 21 13 87
  Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 14:30 and 16:30 to 20:30, Sunday - 11:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 20:30

Places of Interest

Catedral (Cathedral)

Address: located at the eastern end of the city
Erected between the 12th and 16th century the cathedral is chiefly Gothic in architectural style with some Romanesque and baroque design. The cathedral is incorporated into the city walls at the Cimorro (fortified head) and possesses fine stained-glass windows. The work of the 16th-century Dutch master known as Cornelius de Holanda is to be found in the choir stalls carved to illustrate lives of the saints.

Adjacent to the cathedral visitors can find the Museo Catedralicio (Cathedral museum) with its relics and works of art including an example of El Greco's work, sculpture and illuminated manuscripts. A highlight of the museum is a silver monstrance, which is as tall as a man, completed in 1571 by Juan de Arfe.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, shorter opening hours for the museum
Admission: charge

Basílica de San Vicente (St. Vincent's Basílica)

Address: located outside Puerta de San Vicente (St. Vincent's Gate)
The Romanesque Basílica, purported to be raised on the martyrdom site where Vicente and his two sisters were slain in 303 AD by the Romans, features realistic statues of the apostles in the west portico.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

El Monasterio de Santo Tomás (Royal Monastery of St. Thomas)

Address: located 0.5 km / 0.3 miles south-east of the cathedral
This monastery was constructed in 1482 with funding from los Reyes Católicos, Fernando and Isabel, and is the burial place of their only son, Don Juan, who died here aged 19. The prince's tomb is modelled from alabaster carved by Florentine Domenico di Sandro Fancelli. The headquarters of the royals' adviser and confessor, the notorious Friar Tomás Torquemada, were also based here. Torquemada was Spain's first Grand Inquisitor who was the zealous leader of the witch-hunts of the 15th century. The Inquisitor is also buried here.

The monastery is a three-cloister complex with the third cloister's regal rooms housing the Dominican's museum dedicated to Oriental art.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

Convento de Santa Teresa (Convent of St. Theresa)

Santa Teresa reformed the Carmelite order and the baroque Convento de Santa Teresa is one of its numerous convents. The convent was actually built in 1636 on the site that was the birthplace of Santa Teresa. Neighbouring the convent is a museum displaying religious relics amongst which is Teresa's ring finger.
Open hours: museum, daily - 09:30 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 19:30

Convento de San José (St. Joseph's Convent) or Convento de las Madres (The Mother's Convent)

Address: located 5 minutes east of the cathedral
Originating from 1562 this is the first of seventeen convents to be founded by Santa Teresa. She was canonized in 1622 and in 1970 was decreed a doctor of the church.
Open hours: museum, daily - 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, reduced hours during winter
Admission: charge

Las Murallas (The City Walls)

Built between the 11th and 12th century, Ávila's Las Murallas still surround the city. The walls are over 2 km / 1.5 miles long, averaging 12 metres / 40 feet in height and interspersed with 88 cubos (cylindrical towers). There are also nine gates, each formed by two towers which are each over 20 metres / 66 feet high and linked by an arch. The most imposing of these gateways, the Puerta de San Vicente (St. Vincent's Gate) and Puerta del Alcázar (Alcázar Gate), are situated on the east side of the city, Ávila's most weak position due to the plateau of land.
Visitors to the city are able to promenade atop the walls from Puerta del Alcázar to Puerta de Rastro.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 11:00 to 13:30 and 17:00 to 19:30, off-season, daily - 10:30 to 14:30
Admission: charge

Palacio de los Deanes (The Deanes' Palace)

Address: located on Plaza de Nalvillos
Now housing the Museo Provincial (Provincial Museum), which primarily displays regional archaeological finds
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30, Sunday - 11:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge

Other Monuments

Please note most churches are open daily, approximately between 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00.

• Iglesia de Santo Tomé El Viejo (St. Thomas El Viejo's Church) - located on Plaza de Italia, built in 12th century
• Iglesia de San Pedro (St. Peter's Church) - located on Plaza de Santa Teresa
• Iglesia de San Andrés (St. Andrew's Church) - located north of the old city, oldest church in Ávila, built in the 11th century
• Iglesia de San Juan (St. John's Church) - located on Plaza de la Victoria, houses the baptismal font used in the baptism of Santa Teresa
• Convento de la Encarnación (Convent of the Incarnation) - located north of the city walls, Santa Teresa spent 30 years of her monastic life here
• Palacio de los Dávila (The Dávila's Palace) - located near Puerta de Rastro, the Dávila were an infamous fighting noble family

Surrounding Area

Los Cuatro Postes (The Four Posts)

Address: located north-west of Ávila across the Río Adaja
The highlight of travelling to this location is the magnificent panoramic views, which are afforded from the rugged hill. However, also on this site is an unpretentious columnar monument, which marks the spot where Santa Teresa and her brother were foiled in their attempt to achieve martyrdom, at the hands of the Moors, by their uncle.