Old town of Avila in Spain
Rating: 8,2/10 (8011 votes)  Avila – it is the capital of the province above all others. It is also one of the oldest cities on the peninsula, as it was founded in the 5th century BC. Unlike other cities in Spain, the Moorish influence is almost imperceptible in the local architecture: the defense system, which was created to defend against the Moors, reliably defended the city. In 1985, UNESCO included the Old City of Avila in World Heritage List. The city is located 115 kilometers northwest of Madrid. You can get to it by train or bus. Almost all preserved ancient buildings – it is religious architecture. This is due to the fact that Avila – the birthplace of Teresa of Avila, one of the most important shrines in Spain. Teresa of Avila – the patroness of not only Avila, but also the whole country. The monastery of Encaranation is primarily associated with Teresa. It was there that Teresa lived for 27 years as a nun. This monastery was founded in the 15th century. Today there is a museum inside, which is dedicated to the saint. Anyone can visit her cell. Not less important buildings are the monastery of St. Joseph, the first monastery founded by Teresa, as well as the monastery of St. Teresa, which was built after her death where before was her home. Another important attraction of Avila is the Cathedral of St. Salvador. This building was built 200 years ago as part of the city's defensive complex. Its construction began in the 12th century. At this time, the architecture was dominated by the Romanesque style, but the last changes were made already in the Gothic style. The cathedral is an excellent example of the transition between different types of architecture. Inside the cathedral is a museum that houses books, sculptures, paintings, silverware and even the work of El Greco. Civil architecture of Avila – these are fortress walls about 2.5 kilometers long. They have 9 gates and 82 towers. It took several centuries to build walls on the site of former Arab and Roman fortifications.  
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