Ávila

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For other uses, see Avila

**Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches**^a
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	Spain
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Identification	#348
Region^b	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1985 9th Session
a Name as officially inscribed on the WH List b As classified officially by UNESCO

Ávila de los Caballeros (Latin: Abila and Óbila) is a town in the south of Old Castile, the capital of the province of the same name, now part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain (see map).

The city is 1,117 meters above sea level, the highest capital in Spain. It is built on the flat summit of a rocky hill, which rises abruptly in the midst of a veritable wilderness; a brown, arid, treeless table-land, strewn with immense grey boulders, and shut in by lofty mountains. This means an extreme climate, with very hard and long winters, and short summers.

The ancient city walls of Avila, constructed of brown granite, and surmounted by a breastwork, with eighty-eight towers and nine gateways, are still in excellent repair; but a large part of the city lies beyond their circuit. Avila is the seat of a bishop, and contains several ecclesiastical buildings of high interest. The Gothic cathedral, said by tradition to date from 1107, but probably of 13th or 14th century workmanship, has the appearance of a fortress, with embattled walls and two solid towers. It contains many interesting sculptures and paintings, besides one especially fine silver pyx, the work of Juan de Arphe, dating from 1571.

Puerta del Alcazar

The churches of San Vicente, San Pedro, Santo Tomas and San Segundo are, in their main features, Romanesque of the 15th century, although parts of the beautiful San Vicente, and of San Pedro, may be as old as the 12th century. Especially noteworthy is the marble monument in Santo Tomas, carved by the 15th-century Florentine sculptor Domenico Fancelli, over the tomb of Prince John, the only son of Ferdinand and Isabella.

The town is renowned for Teresa of Avila, the Carmelite reformer who lived there. Another prominent native was Tomás Luis de Victoria. The convent and church of Santa Teresa mark the supposed birthplace of the saint whose name they bear (c. 1515-1582). Avila also possesses an old Moorish castle (alcazar) used as barracks, a foundling hospital, infirmary, military academy, and training schools for teachers of both sexes. From 1482 to 1807 it was also the seat of a university.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

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Ávila

edit	Municipalities of Ávila
Adanero \| Albornos \| Aldeanueva de Santa Cruz \| Aldeaseca \| Amavida \| Arenas de San Pedro \| Arevalillo \| Arévalo \| Aveinte \| Avellaneda \| Ávila \| Barromán \| Becedas \| Becedillas \| Bercial de Zapardiel \| Bernuy-Zapardiel \| Berrocalejo de Aragona \| Blascomillán \| Blasconuño de Matacabras \| Blascosancho \| Bohoyo \| Bonilla de la Sierra \| Brabos \| Bularros \| Burgohondo \| Cabezas de Alambre \| Cabezas del Pozo \| Cabezas del Villar \| Cabizuela \| Canales \| Candeleda \| Cantiveros \| Cardeñosa \| Casas del Puerto de Villatoro \| Casasola \| Casavieja \| Casillas \| Castellanos de Zapardiel \| Cebreros \| Cepeda la Mora \| Chamartín \| Cillán \| Cisla \| Collado de Contreras \| Collado del Mirón \| Constanzana \| Crespos \| Cuevas del Valle \| Diego del Carpio \| Donjimeno \| Donvidas \| El Arenal \| El Barco de Ávila \| El Barraco \| El Bohodón \| El Fresno \| El Hornillo \| El Hoyo de Pinares \| El Losar del Barco \| El Mirón \| El Oso \| El Parral \| El Tiemblo \| Espinosa de los Caballeros \| Flores de Ávila \| Fontiveros \| Fresnedilla \| Fuente el Saúz \| Fuentes de Año \| Gallegos de Altamiros \| Gallegos de Sobrinos \| Garganta del Villar \| Gavilanes \| Gemuño \| Gil García \| Gilbuena \| Gimialcón \| Gotarrendura \| Grandes y San Martín \| Gutierre-Muñoz \| Hernansancho \| Herradón de Pinares \| Herreros de Suso \| Higuera de las Dueñas \| Horcajo de las Torres \| Hoyocasero \| Hoyorredondo \| Hoyos de Miguel Muñoz \| Hoyos del Collado \| Hoyos del Espino \| Hurtumpascual \| Junciana \| La Adrada \| La Aldehuela \| La Carrera \| La Colilla \| La Hija de Dios \| La Horcajada \| La Serrada \| La Torre \| Langa \| Lanzahíta \| Las Berlanas \| Las Navas del Marqués \| Los Llanos de Tormes \| Madrigal de las Altas Torres \| Maello \| Malpartida de Corneja \| Mamblas \| Mancera de Arriba \| Manjabálago \| Marlín \| Martiherrero \| Martínez \| Mediana de Voltoya \| Medinilla \| Mengamuñoz \| Mesegar de Corneja \| Mijares \| Mingorría \| Mironcillo \| Mirueña de los Infanzones \| Mombeltrán \| Monsalupe \| Moraleja de Matacabras \| Muñana \| Muñico \| Muñogalindo \| Muñogrande \| Muñomer del Peco \| Muñopepe \| Muñosancho \| Muñotello \| Narrillos del Rebollar \| Narrillos del Álamo \| Narros de Saldueña \| Narros del Castillo \| Narros del Puerto \| Nava de Arévalo \| Nava del Barco \| Navacepedilla de Corneja \| Navadijos \| Navaescurial \| Navahondilla \| Navalacruz \| Navalmoral \| Navalonguilla \| Navalosa \| Navalperal de Pinares \| Navalperal de Tormes \| Navaluenga \| Navaquesera \| Navarredonda de Gredos \| Navarredondilla \| Navarrevisca \| Navatalgordo \| Navatejares \| Neila de San Miguel \| Niharra \| Ojos-Albos \| Orbita (Spagna) \| Padiernos \| Pajares de Adaja \| Palacios de Goda \| Papatrigo \| Pascualcobo \| Pedro Bernardo \| Pedro-Rodríguez \| Peguerinos \| Peñalba de Ávila \| Piedrahíta \| Piedralaves \| Poveda \| Poyales del Hoyo \| Pozanco \| Pradosegar \| Puerto Castilla \| Rasueros \| Riocabado \| Riofrío \| Rivilla de Barajas \| Salobral \| Salvadiós \| San Bartolomé de Béjar \| San Bartolomé de Corneja \| San Bartolomé de Pinares \| San Esteban de Zapardiel \| San Esteban de los Patos \| San Esteban del Valle \| San García de Ingelmos \| San Juan de Gredos \| San Juan de la Encinilla \| San Juan de la Nava \| San Juan del Molinillo \| San Juan del Olmo \| San Lorenzo de Tormes \| San Martín de la Vega del Alberche \| San Martín del Pimpollar \| San Miguel de Corneja \| San Miguel de Serrezuela \| San Pascual \| San Pedro del Arroyo \| San Vicente de Arévalo \| Sanchidrián \| Sanchorreja \| Santa Cruz de Pinares \| Santa Cruz del Valle \| Santa María de los Caballeros \| Santa María del Arroyo \| Santa María del Berrocal \| Santa María del Cubillo \| Santa María del Tiétar \| Santiago del Collado \| Santiago del Tormes \| Santo Domingo de las Posadas \| Santo Tomé de Zabarcos \| Serranillos \| Sigeres \| Sinlabajos \| Solana de Rioalmar \| Solana de Ávila \| Solosancho \| Sotalbo \| Sotillo de la Adrada \| Tiñosillos \| Tolbaños \| Tormellas \| Tornadizos de Ávila \| Tórtoles \| Umbrías \| Vadillo de la Sierra \| Valdecasa \| Vega de Santa María \| Velayos \| Villaflor \| Villafranca de la Sierra \| Villanueva de Gómez \| Villanueva de Ávila \| Villanueva del Aceral \| Villanueva del Campillo \| Villar de Corneja \| Villarejo del Valle \| Villatoro \| Vita \| Viñegra de Moraña \| Zapardiel de la Cañada \| Zapardiel de la Ribera