Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Ávila
Ávila, located at 1,131 metres above sea level, is the highest provincial capital in Spain. Nestled between the Central System and the Northern Plateau, it is bordered by the River Adaja, a tributary of the Duero, which forms its western boundary.
The history of Ávila dates back to the Vetones, a Celtic people who originally inhabited this province, Salamanca and part of Portugal. The Vetones left their mark in the form of several forts in the area and in the iconic verracos, stone sculptures in the shape of animals.
During Romanisation, the first settlement was established on the site where the city stands today, leaving a legacy in the form of the Roman bridge, the Roman road and several mosaics we can still admire today. Between the 8th and 11th centuries, Ávila was mainly under Muslim rule, but after intense conflict, the city was almost destroyed. It was after the Christian conquest, under the command of Count Raymond of Burgundy, that the famous city walls were built, a symbol of the city and one of the best preserved in Europe.
The city's historic quarters, distributed according to trades, were built around the Romanesque churches built between the 12th and 13th centuries. In the 16th century, Ávila enjoyed its period of Renaissance splendour, with the construction of various palaces and the presence of Saint Teresa of Jesus, one of the city's most famous figures.
Despite the challenges it faced in the following centuries, from expulsions to plagues, failed industries and plundering that led to the deterioration and abandonment of the city, today the city has recovered and has a population of around 60,000 inhabitants. Its economy is dominated by a primary sector renowned for its beef, an important secondary sector thanks to the automobile industry and a very strong tertiary sector boosted by being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The natural environment surrounding the city is of great ecological value. Ávila is surrounded by four areas protected by the Natura 2000 Network. Three of these areas are Special Protection Areas for Birds and the last is a Site of Community Importance.
The city is also a hive of activity in terms of festivals and events of interest. On 2 May, the town celebrates its patron saint, San Segundo, with various events at the Shrine in his honour. But the highlight comes on the first weekend of September with the Market of the Three Cultures, a medieval fair that transforms the old town into a journey into the past, with costumes, stalls and a unique atmosphere.