Ávila

Ávila is a city of 58,000 people (2018) in Castile in Northern Spain, 120 km from Madrid. Its old town is spectacularly ringed by ancient walls, and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ávila sits on the fertile Meseta Central plateau at an altitude of over 1100 m. It's near-freezing in winter and cool in summer, especially at the top end of town near the cathedral, catching the night breeze.



Get in
By plane: Madrid Barajas airport is 100 km south, with extensive connections domestically, across Europe, and to the Gulf States and Americas. Salamanca airport is 50 km west of the city but has few flights.

Fast trains run every hour or two from Madrid-Chamartin, via El Escorial, taking 90 min. Most continue west to Salamanca, 70 min. is 500 m east of city centre

Buses from Madrid run from Estación Sur de Autobuses ("South Station") off Calle de Méndez Álvaro, 1 km SE of Madrid Atocha railway station. They run every couple of hours, taking 80 mins, price €10. They're operated by Jimenez Dorado. Buses operated by La Sepulvedana also run from Ávila to Segovia (one hour) and Salamanca (2 hr 30 min). is 500 m east of city centre, close to the railway station

By car: from Madrid follow A6 north then AP51. From Segovia (70 km) follow N110 west to join AP51. From Salamanca (100 km) follow A50 south.

Get around
Walking is usually best: try to avoid driving within the walled old town. A tourist 'train' also trundles round the main sights.

See

 * Other notable churches are the Romanesque outside the NE corner of the walls,  100 m east of the walls and Cathedral, and  another 200 m east.
 * Other notable churches are the Romanesque outside the NE corner of the walls,  100 m east of the walls and Cathedral, and  another 200 m east.
 * Other notable churches are the Romanesque outside the NE corner of the walls,  100 m east of the walls and Cathedral, and  another 200 m east.
 * Other notable churches are the Romanesque outside the NE corner of the walls,  100 m east of the walls and Cathedral, and  another 200 m east.
 * Other notable churches are the Romanesque outside the NE corner of the walls,  100 m east of the walls and Cathedral, and  another 200 m east.

Do


Go horse-riding or take lessons at Centro Hipico Naturávila, 6 km east of town off Highway 505.

Eat
Usual meaty Castilian fare, the signature dish being the beef-steak Chuletón de Ávila. Yemas de Ávila (or Yemas de Santa Teresa) are a glootchy sweet made from egg yolks.

The main clusters of eating places are along Calle de San Segundo on the walls' east flank, and through the old town lanes into Plaza del Mercado Chico. You may struggle to find anything for dinner before 20:30 except tapas. But try El Portalon in Mercado Chico, or Gran Muralla Chinese Restaurant on C de San Segundo.

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.

Go next
With your own car, visit the mountains of Gredos 50 km southwest, for hiking and wildlife. Historic villages here include Hoyos del Espino, Piedrahita, Barco de Ávila and Arevalo. You can also use the hill road south N403 to reach Toledo without going into Madrid.

By public transport, the easy options are Salamanca, Segovia, El Escorial and Madrid.