When we plan a visit to Spain, obviously the first thing that comes to mind is Madrid, Barcelona and Seville as automatic places, but Spain is a country of almost endless diversity and its historical attractions, cultural and natural, which makes it an excellent destination for travelers from around the world. Within this diversity, deserves mention a visit to Avila, a trip to the medieval past and near Madrid.

Photography by Cruccone

Located south of Castile, noble land of silent people have accustomed their eyes to the color contrast of the clay from their land with white houses and green crops, Avila contains, literally, a piece of history, speaking castles, kings, and power struggles, foreign invasions, and speaks of Christianity, a devout Spain at one point, was a great empire.

Avila is famous for its walled old town, possibly the main attraction of the city because, despite its age, is in perfect condition and with its two miles long and nearly 15 meters high on average, is credit the honor of being the second largest wall in the world, only behind the monumental Great Wall of China.

Its origin dates back to the Roman Empire, widespread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, and were designed as a protective fence of the invading army installations. Later and the pace of the centuries, the walls were marking the division between high and low, as only nobles and aristocrats lived in the interior, leaving the working classes and disadvantaged paying their taxes the costs of construction and maintenance walls, whose function was essentially defensive and offered the necessary protection against invasions and sieges.

Photography by BY-YOUR-

Currently, part of the attractions that Avila has available to its visitors, allowing access to many of its 80 towers and walk along the top, to feel transported back in time to medieval times and watch from afar the landscape of the comarca. Or feel the past in the skin to cover its nine entrances and exit to the city that has grown at her feet.

No doubt the walls are the main attraction of Avila, but the city has other surprises for its visitors, as both the old city wall and the churches in the outskirts have been declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity highlighting its cathedral, a masterpiece of architecture and also the sites where the saint lived locally, Saint Teresa of Avila, whose history is closely linked to the city and the Church of San Vicente.

But not all cultural tourism in Avila, Castilla also is an area rich in rural tourism, especially in walking and has attractive routes for travelers traveling and soaking up the essence of this rich and noble land, dry and hot in the summer and very cold in winter …

A land of contrasts and as said earlier, noble and kind people that offer visitors a rich and abundant food, dishes marked by much «substance» and delicious «steak» an important piece of roast beef that makes taste buds, especially if combined with Castilian soup, made with bread and garlic, and all accompanied with local wine, very red and very thick, which brightens the senses and the spirit of the traveler who has come from away to revive a piece of the past.

Photography by losmininos

And in Spain, Ávila has accommodations for all types and budgets, although the recommended option if allowed by the portfolio, is to spend the night at the Parador de Ávila, old building situated in the old city and completely rebuilt to deliver comfort and convenience in an environment and historic past.

Bon voyage!