Avila information
General information
The extensive history of Avila begins with the primitive Celtiberian settlement of the Vetones around 700 B.C. The first wall was built with the arrival of the Romans in the third century B.C., making Avila a strategic point of defence. Following several centuries of decadence, the city was repopulated and rebuilt in the 11th century. The legend says that Raimundo de Borgoña, son-in-law of King Alfonso VI, was in charge of supervising the reconstruction of the wall over the ruins of the ancient Roman fortress. The peak period of the city would come in the 16th century, when wool manufacture would allow its economic take-off. During this boom, many civil and religious buildings were built in the city, which still stand in the historic quarter.
The wall is the symbol of the city, and it is one of the best kept, medieval walled-enclosures in Europe. Its perimeter of two and a half kilometres are marked by almost 2,500 crenellations, a hundred towers, six gates, and three openings.
The Gate of Leales, one of the main entrances into the ancient
city, leads directly to the cathedral, a temple which resembles
a fortress, erected between the 12th and 14th centuries, and whose
apse, called "cimorro", is semi-detached from the wall,
making it the largest round turret of the whole bastion. While
Gothic and Baroque elements can be seen in the façade,
in the interior the elaborated relieves of the retrochoir, and
the alabaster sarcophagus of El Tostado are outstanding. The Diocesan
Museum has numerous art pieces.
Within the confines of the wall, there are medieval corners, such
as the Plaza de los Dávila, with more than a dozen Renaissance
houses of noble lineage, among which it is worth mentioning the
Mansion of Velada, the Palace of Valderrábano, and the
Palace of Núñez Vela. But the most remarkable building
is the Palace of Dávila. It is a severe fortress made up
of four houses, the oldest of which dates back to the 13th century.
The compound stands out for its crenellations and for its quite
famous Renaissance window.
Nearby stands the Tower of Guzmanes, erected in the 16th century,
and which presently houses the City Council. These are only a
few of the more than a hundred mansions and palatial residences
that existed in Avila between the 16th and 18th century, fact
that can be seen in the full name of the city: Avila de los Caballeros,
or Avila of the Noblemen. The square of Mercado Chico, the place
where the ancient Roman forum stood, is now the city centre. The
front of the City Hall faces it, and so does the façade
of the church of San Juan, rebuilt between the 15th and the 16th
centuries.
Throughout history, Avila was the birthplace of famous Spanish
mystics, like Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Juan de la Cruz. This
is evidenced by the great number of churches and convents that
are scattered around the city. In Plaza de Santa Teresa we find
the convent under the same name, built in 1636 on top of the house
where Santa Teresa del Jesús was born. The building, with
a Baroque main front, houses an important collection of carvings
made by sculptor Gregorio Fernández, in addition to a chapel,
remarkable for its profuse ornamentation, devoted to the Saint.
Beyond the confines of the walled-enclosure sits the monastery
of Encarnación, erected in the 16th century, and where
Santa Teresa lived as a nun for more than 20 years. Inside it,
is interesting it to visit the places that the writer frequented,
such as her cell, or the chapel of Transverberation.
Another remarkable building is the Basilica of San Vicente, erected
in the 12th century. This temple is considered to be the most
beautiful example of Romanesque architecture in the city, even
though it incorporates architectural elements that were added
during later periods. The exterior of the building is dominated
by three magnificent apses, the western front, also known as the
Portico of the Glory of Avila, and the southern façade.
The interior is graced with beautiful vaults, and the sarcophagus
of San Vicente, an important funerary monument attributed to master
Fruchel. Behind the basilica sits the church of San Andrés,
a Romanesque building that holds in its interior the most important
decorated capitals of those still preserved in the city.
Also from the Romanesque period is the church of San Pedro, one of the oldest in Avila, dating back to the 12th through 13th centuries. The sobriety that characterised this building attracted the most relevant figures of Avila for centuries. The most remarkable elements from the outside are a great Cistercian rose window in the main front, and three apses. From the inside, the scant ornamentation contrast with the interesting series of paintings and reredos.
Beyond the confines of the walls, though near the Gate of Leales,
stands the Palace of the Deans. Originally, as its name suggests,
this monumental sixteenth-century house was built to accommodate
the consecutive deans (priests in charge of the management of
the cathedral chapter) that Avila had throughout history. The
first thing that draws attention is the Renaissance façade,
with its double row of columns, plateresque shields, and Baroque
pinnacles. These elements give the whole compound an undeniable
stately air. In the interior, the main building and its outbuildings
are arranged around a courtyard with two galleries with Gothic
arches. These premises presently house the Regional Museum, which
holds interesting collections of archaeology, ethnography, and
fine arts. In addition, the museum has an annexe: the old church
of Santo Tomé the Elder (12th century).
The Isabelline Gothic monastery of Santo Tomás was finished
at the end of 15th century during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.
Traditionally, it was the summer residence of the Spanish Royal
Family. The compound is dominated by a monumental church of only
one nave, with orgive vaults and a few side chapels. In the middle
of the transept is the beautiful marble sarcophagus -sculpted
by Domenico Fancelli- of the Infante Don Juan, son of the Monarchs.
Outstanding as well is the magnificent reredos, made by Berruguete,
and the raised choir. The convent area is arranged around three
cloisters -the Novitiate, the Silent, and the Royal cloisters-
richly ornamented. On the other hand, the old royal outbuildings
house the Oriental Museum, which exhibits an interesting collection
of artwork from the Far East.
The visit to this millenary city can conclude at the viewpoint of Cuatro Postes, which presents one of the most beautiful views of the medieval walled enclosure.
Oficina de Turismo: Plaza de la Catedral, 4
5001 Ávila (Ávila)
Tel. +34 920211387
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.