Avila
Hotels, motels and where to sleep
Restaurant, taverns and where to eat
Cultural (and not so cultural) events
Interesting information and useful tips
Description of Avila
Avila is a Spanish city and municipality, located
in the province of Avila, in the autonomous community of Castilla y
León. It is the capital of the province of the same name and the
region of Avila, which includes the Amblés Valley and the Sierra de
Ávila, as well as the seat of the judicial party number 3 of the
province and of the homonymous diocese. Adaja river flows through
the city. It is the
highest provincial capital of Spain, at 1131 m above sea level, by
virtue of which in the urban area are relatively frequent snowfalls
during winter. The city has a continental Mediterranean climate with
hilly nuances. In 2012, its municipal area concentrated 34% of the
total population of the province.
It is believed that the city was found by the ancient Romans with the
subsequent assimilation of the indigenous population of the area - because there are no clear
indications of a pre-Roman settlement in the historic center. Later the
city would pass to the Visigoth power. Avila fell, like most of the
peninsular territory, under Muslim rule at the beginning of the
eighth century, and would not be definitively reconquered by
Christian troops until the eleventh century. It experienced a
notable boom during the sixteenth century, to be subsequently
plunged into a prolonged crisis and decline until the nineteenth
century, in which the construction of the railway managed to give a
boost to economic development.
The hallmark of Avila is its medieval wall, Romanesque
style, also highlighting other representative buildings such as the
Cathedral of El Salvador, or
the Basilica of San Vicente. It has traditionally been considered a
"city of songs and saints" and its medieval historic center, in
excellent condition, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Climate
The climate of Ávila is continental Mediterranean, of an intense
cold during 8 months due to its location and altitude on the level
of the sea, with a fresh summer that does not surpass the 20ºC of
average, and has a maximum of 32ºC, the precipitations are
established around 450-500 mm per year with summer drought, the
periods of greatest precipitation are distributed between
October-December and March-June, summer storms are not uncommon.
Travel Destinations in Avila
San Vicente (Avila)
Convento de Santa Teresa (Avila)
Transportation
Arrive
By plane
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 125 Kms.
Valladolid Airport 130 Kms.
Salamanca-Matacán Airport at 90 Kms.
By train
Through the station of Ávila of Renfe , the city is connected to
various capitals and provinces, being especially good connection to
Madrid. Most of the trains that travel from north to south of Spain
pass through the city, and from the city there is a railway line
connecting Madrid and Salamanca.
It is expected that with the start-up of the
Madrid-Segovia-Valladolid high-speed line, the frequency and
centrality of the Ávila station will decrease in favor of the
aforementioned line.
In bus
On March 18, 2014, the new bus station of Ávila (Av. De Madrid, 2)
was inaugurated , located a short distance from the railway station.
By car
The main access roads to the city are:
N-403 From Toledo to Valladolid
N-110 From Plasencia to Segovia
AP-51 A Villacastín and Madrid
N-501 To Salamanca
N-502 To Talavera de la Reina
CL-501 To El Escorial and Madrid
AV-804 To Villanueva de Gómez y Arévalo
Hotels, motels and where to sleep
Splurge
Parador de Ávila, Calle Marques de Canales y Chozas 2 (From Av de
Madrid follow C Ronda Vieja then Plaza Concepcion Arenal), ☎ +34 920
21 13 40. 4-star parador in 16th C palace within the city walls.
Free guest parking.
Restaurant, taverns and where to eat
Typical meals
Roast lamb
Asado de Cabrito
Yolks Santa Teresa
Beans from El Barco
Cochinillo de La Moraña
Wines of Rueda and Cebreros
Restaurants
Meson El Rastro
The Cancels
The Extremeño
Olimpo Restaurant
Drink
At night Vallespin St. is the best choice for young travellers.
During the day you can take tapas with beer (caña) in the square "el
grande" behind the cathedral.
Cultural (and not so cultural) events
Culture
Festivity of Santa Teresa de Ávila , October 15.
Although they are not proper parties, the first weekend of September
is celebrated in Avila, the medieval days, which have. It is a
weekend in which Ávila returns to the Middle Ages and its streets
are filled with people and multicolored stalls, mixing dances and
smells with freshly cooked grilled food.
Interesting information and useful tips