Avila, Spain

Ávila is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of the same name, located 115 km from Madrid and at 1117 m above sea level, making it the highest capital of the province in Spain. This fortified city is one of the most amazing sights of Spain, with a location that determines the harsh climate - short summers and long, cold winters. The first inhabitants of the area were the Celtic tribe Vetoni, who left the name of the city - Obila ("High Hill").
During the Reconquista, the city was on the "front line" for a long time, passing now into the hands of the Moors, now into the hands of the Christians. After the 11th century, Ávila finally passed into the hands of the latter, who built high fortress walls around the whole city. In the Middle Ages, Ávila became the center of Catholic mysticism.
In Avila is the impressive Salvador de Avila Cathedral, built in the XI-XIV centuries, which is the first Gothic cathedral in Spain. Here you can see many interesting paintings and sculptures, as well as works by Juan de Arfe, dating from 1571. Those who crossed the threshold of the religious monument must seek and visit the tomb of El Tostado - a bishop called "Tanned" because of the color of his skin).
Other interesting landmarks in Ávila include the churches of San Vicente, San Pedro and San Segundo, with typical 12th-century Romanesque features. The Basilica of San Vicente is interesting in itself as a Romanesque-Gothic building that housed the sarcophagi of San Vicente and its two sisters. In the monastery of San Thomas from the end of the XV century is the tomb of Tomaso de Torquemada - the only son of Ferdinand and Isabella.
The Transfiguration Monastery was built on the site of the house of St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) - mystic and nun, made reforms in the Carmelite Order and left a masterfully written religious poetry.
The city of Avila with its churches and an incredible fortress wall, more than 2.5 km long and has 88 towers and 9 doors was included in the World Heritage List in 1985. In the city and its surroundings there are many preserved medieval castles and monasteries.