[2025 Avila Attraction] Travel Guide for Old Town of Avila (Updated Jul)

A short trip from Madrid, about 1.5 hours by car, takes you to the ancient city of Avila. This medieval castle town, with its massive ancient city walls, is situated at an altitude of 1128 meters, making it the highest city in Spain. The city is surrounded by 9 gates and 88 towers, creating a truly magnificent sight. Avila has a beautiful name, officially known as 'The Knight's Avila,' also referred to as 'The City of Saints and Stones' or 'The City of Saints.' Its most famous feature is the 2.5-kilometer-long medieval city wall that encircles and protects the city from all directions. Originally built to defend against Moorish invasions, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When visiting Avila's old town, the main attractions are the cathedral and the castle. A unique spot outside the northern part of the city is the 'Four Poles,' a high vantage point offering the best view of Avila's ancient city. There is also a cross monument nearby. A stay of about 3-4 hours is sufficient. It is recommended to include Salamanca in your itinerary for a day trip, as it is conveniently located for a round trip.

Ávila is a small city in the autonomous region of Castile and León and the highest city in Spain. The ancient city wall is the symbol of the city, and the cathedral in the city is the oldest Gothic church in Spain. At the same time, there are a large number of Renaissance and Gothic churches, monasteries, etc. The Alcazar Castle, built in the 15th century, is also a highlight of the city. The city still retains its Christian cultural color, and a large number of historical sites are scattered around places such as Saint Teresa de Jesús and Saint Juan de la Cruz. At the same time, Ávila (population 50,000) is also a World Cultural Heritage City recognized by UNESCO.

In order to defend Spanish territory and resist the invasion of the Moors, the Spaniards built the city of Avila in the 11th century AD. The ancient city of Ávila is located on a cape on the right bank of Adaga, a tributary of the Douro River, adjacent to the old Castile Plateau. The Celts settled here two thousand years ago BC. The first Christian church was built in 65 AD during the Roman era. Historically, it served as a defensive function and was also a religious center and the capital of the province of Ávila. The city of Ávila still retains its medieval simplicity, which can be seen from its Gothic cathedral and its fortifications, which consist of 82 semicircular towers and 9 city gates. It is the most complete castle in Spain.

From Salamanca to Avila, a beautiful walled city, 177km, 1hr 53min. Checked in to the accommodation booked outside the city because it has parking, restaurants and is a tourist attraction. Most importantly, it is not expensive. After parking the car, went into the restaurant and asked for the hotel. He said this is it. Then he took us to the room behind the counter. We checked in and received the room key. The restaurant was full of people. It seemed that every table was full. So I asked him what time the food service ended. It was still serving. So I asked if there were any seats. He said there were none. So I asked to order food to eat in the room. But I was the only one and I was a customer of the hotel. So he arranged a special table for me. The food service was almost over, so I ordered food to eat before going to the room. The food was really delicious. It was worth the restaurant being full. He included it in the accommodation fee. I didn't have to pay. Then I went to carry my bags to the room, which was not far from the parking lot. After resting and getting rid of fatigue, I drove to the city. Parking was not difficult. There were cars parked along the wall. This city has a very complete city wall. It still surrounds almost the entire old city. Some parts have collapsed, but they are trying to repair them to keep them in their original condition. I spent money to walk up the wall, then went down to walk around the old town inside the city, went into an old church that looked very sacred. Most of the tourists were self-guided, didn't see any tour groups. After walking around the city, it wasn't dark yet and I wasn't tired, but I had already run out of places, so I went back to my accommodation to eat delicious food and write stories to send to my friends. It's very close from my accommodation to the old town (2-3 km). Looking from my accommodation on another hill, I could see the old town wall. Outside the city walls is a new city that doesn't have any buildings that are an eyesore. The construction of old towns in Spain should be controlled so that tall buildings are not built, so it looks harmonious and not ugly. #avila #spain #europe

The ancient city of Avila, located in central Spain, is the capital of the province of Avila and the most complete castle in Spain. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1985. Historically, Avila is not only a religious center, but also a defensive function. In order to resist the invasion of the Moors, the Spanish built the castle in the 11th century. Now here is the world famous tourist center. The ancient city of Avila is backed by the snow-capped Gredos Mountains. The biggest feature here is the city of Avila, which is unique in shape, majestic in architecture and rare in the world. Although it has been nearly a thousand years, it is still intact. It usually takes 2 hours to tour, so we choose to travel to and from Madrid on the same day. Parking here is coin-operated, it is best to prepare some change. Before we set out, we paid special attention to the weather forecast, because the sunset in Avila is very dreamy. Walking in the battlements and watching the sunset will definitely be super romantic...