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A short break in Avila, Spain
is an ideal choice especially for people
who live Madrid or plan to visit this
area of Spain. Avila is well-known for
the amazingly intact wall surrounding
the city, for being the birthplace and
home of Santa Teresa of Jesus (a devout
Catholic nun famous for writing poems
dedicated to Jesus to in which she expressed
her devotion to Him) and for sweetmeats
made by local nuns and sold in small shops
throughout the city. Especially "yemas"
made with egg yolks and sugar.
A trip to Avila is a treat at any time
of year, but we especially enjoy Avila
in the freezing Winter temperatures or
in the Autumn. Few cities and surroundings
give you the opportunity to travel back
in time in such a special way.
Places to visit in the city of Avila,
World Heritage Site
- The City Wall (11th century),
this is Avila's most emblematicand spectacular
monument. It surrounds the old town,
illustrating the wealth, power and influence
this fortified city enjoyed centuries
ago. Beautifully illuminated at night.
Look for the impressive Alcázar
and San Vicente gates.
- The Cathedral of Avila (10th
- 14th century), temple fortress
- Convents: The Convent of Santa
Teresa, the Convent of Las Madres and
the Convent of Santo Thomas…
- Chapels: The Chapel of Nuestra
Señora de Sonsoles, and of San
Segundo...
- The four posts: magnificent
views of the city and the city wall,
a pleasant 15 minutes stroll away from
the center and an ideal place from which
to take photos
- Museums and exhibitions: The
Provincial Museum of Art, the Museum
of Oriental Art, The Serrano Palace
Shopping in Avila: Take advantage
of the fact that the nuns of the Convent
of Santa María de Jesúis
(nuns of the Order of Saint Clare) and
the Monastery of Santa Anathe make delicious
sweets, biscuits,chocolate and cakes.
You don't have to go to the convents to
buy them - all the local shops selling
things typical of Avila stock them. You
can also buy some beans (judias) from
nearby Barco de Avila, which are said
to be the best beans of the whole of Spain
(use them for this bean
and chorizo stew recipe). There is
a modern shopping center on the outskirts
of the city which you pass if you arrive
on the motorway from Madrid. If you like
religious articles then you will enjoy
the numerous little statues and images
dedicated to St. Teresa in particular
and the Catholic church in general.
Eating out in Avila:
Restaurants: There are three in
the city that stand out. El Almacen
(creative cuisine, Salamanca Road no.
6 Telephone: 920 25 44 55), Doña
Guiomar (classic cuisine and also
some innovations Tomás Luis de
Victoria no. 3 Telephone: 920 25 37 09),
Alcaravea (cheaper than El Almacen
and for the younger crowd Plaza de la
Catedral no. 15 Teléfono: 920 22
66 00).
Tapas: Another possibility are
the excellent tapas bars located in the
city (El Sol, El Tablón, La Oca,
Casa Postas...)
Avila cuisine: Meat is the most
important dish, the famous Avila veal
- dark Iberian meat of an exceptional
standard, from one of the oldest protected
breeds in Europe. The roasts are exquisite
(piglets, lamb...) In addition, the pulse
dishes are exceptional, especially the
beans froms 'Barco de Ávila'. The
goat cheese from the Tíetar valley
is also excellent not to mention the 'yemas'
and 'glorias' (pastries and cakes) from
the Santa Teresa convent. Also try the
"patatas revolconas", potatoes
flavoured with spicey chorizo. Throw all
caution to the wind, and resolve to live
on fruit and salads for a week after your
visit.
Accommodation
in Avila - Hotels: Our recommendation
is the Parador
of Ávila (****), strategically
set within the city walls.Although it
is now possible to find other attractive
alternatives, including:
- Ávila Golf Hotel (****),
a modern hotel with a golf course and
spa, perfect for those who want to combine
culture and leisure (see
photos and read more)
Ávila Province
Magnificent countryside and places to
visit. The most important and attractive
villages are Arenas de San Pedro, Arévalo,
El Barco de Ávila, Hoyos del
Espino and Piedrahita. We strongly recommend
a visit to the nearby villages of Piedrahita
and Barco de Ávila, where you
can enjoy a meal in the Casino (in El
Barco) or in the Gran Duque in Piedrahita.
Sierra de Gredos (the Gredos
mountains). This place deserves a special
mention. You can access the north face
which gives easy access to 'la plataforma'
through Hoyos del Espino (Circo de Gredos,
La Laguna Grande..). If you can, set
aside a whole weekend to visit the area
of Gredos, especially if you enjoy walking.
Stay in the recently reformed Gredos
Parador.
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