Spain: Day 8, Ávila

On our last full day in Spain we went on a guided tour to Ávila and Segovia, both northwest of Madrid in the Castile-León region.  In order to see both cities, and for the welcome break of letting someone else be the tour guide, we scheduled an excursion by van with Madrid Day Tours.  After driving out of Madrid, we drove through the rocky terrain of the plateau of Castile-León, by windmills and snow-capped mountains, on busy highways and winding roads through small villages—I was trying to take it all in, hoping to spark some memories from living in the area 30 years earlier. 

We headed to Ávila first, known for its fully-preserved 11th century walls and battlements.  At 1,132 metres above sea level, Ávila is nearly twice the elevation of Madrid and we admittedly felt it on that winter day.  It was chilly—gloves and hats stayed on during our walking tour of Ávila, but, you can see from the pictures, it really didn’t hold us back.  Our guide took us around the walls, through the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús (built on the birthplace of Ávila’s own St. Teresa), and on to the marketplace.  We had an hour or so to explore on our own as well, so first we warmed ourselves up with some hot chocolate and coffee and some of Ávila’s famous pastries.  Ávila might’ve still looked like a medieval city, but the shops and locals looked very cosmopolitan.  We loved exploring Ávila, however chilly—the murallas (walls) of Ávila are just a spectacular sight.  

{From left to right, top to bottom: viewing Ávila from Cuatro Postes; Ella and Jack at Cuatro Postes; the view of the other side of the wall around the city; the Convent of St. Teresa; an up close look at the walls; I love the signs and view.}

{Christmas lights; a view into Plaza de Santa Teresa; Plaza de Mercado Chico; more medieval architecture; checking out St. Teresa’s finger…you read that right (she died in 1582); so many details in everything; the front of the Convent of St. Teresa.}

{The walls and battlements; the Cathedral of Ávila; statue of St. Teresa of Ávila; the Cathedral; the perfectly intact medieval walls of Ávila.}

{Exploring the Paseo del Rastro along the walls of Ávila and enjoying the beautiful views across the plains.}

{Views from the Paseo del Rastro of Ávila.}

{A little rock climbing along the walls of Ávila.}