Ávila (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈaβila]; Latin: Abila and Obila) is a Spanish city located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, and is the capital of the Province of Ávila.
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| Ávila | |||
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| Nickname(s): Ávila de los Caballeros, Ávila del Rey, Ávila de los Leales | |||
| Motto: Una ciudad para todos... (A city for everyone...) | |||
 Ávila
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| Coordinates: 40°39′N 4°41′W / 40.650°N 4.683°WCoordinates: 40°39′N 4°41′W / 40.650°N 4.683°W | |||
| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous Community |  Castile and León |
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| Province | Ávila | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Miguel Ángel García Nieto (PP) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 231.9 km2 (89.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,132 m (3,714 ft) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • Total | 58,245 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 05001 - 05006 | ||
| Area code(s) | 34 (Spain) + 920 (Ávila) | ||
| Website | http://www.avila.es (Spanish) | ||
Ávila (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈaβila]; Latin: Abila and Obila) is a Spanish city located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, and is the capital of the Province of Ávila.
It is sometimes called the City of Stones and Saints, and it claims that it is one of the cities with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches (and bars and restaurants) per capita in Spain. (Zamora, a city of similar size, claims the greatest number of Romanesque churches in Europe.) It is notable for having complete and prominent medieval city walls, built in the Romanesque style. The city is also known as Ávila de los Caballeros, Ávila del Rey and Ávila de los Leales (Ávila of the Knights, the King and the Loyalists), each of these epithets being present in the city standard.
The writer José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín), in his seminal book El alma castellana (The Castilian Soul), described it as "perhaps the most 16th century city in Spain", and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Geography[edit]
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Situation[edit]
Situated 1132 meters (3714 feet) above sea level on a rocky outcrop on the right bank of the Adaja river, a tributary of the Duero, Ávila is the highest provincial 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.
Climate[edit]
Ávila's position results in a Mediterranean climate (Csb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with warm summers and chilly winters with snowfalls, bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The hotest month, July, has an average temperature of 19.7 °C (67 °F), and the coldest month, January, has an average of 2.8 °C (37 °F). The average annual precipitation is 400 mm (15.75 in).[1] Annual rainfall is low compared to surrounding areas, implying that it lies in a rain shadow. The Adaja is dry for several months of the year and the city has historically had water supply problems.
History[edit]
In pre-Roman times (5th century BC), Ávila was inhabited by the Vettones, who called it Obila ("High Mountain") and built one of their strongest fortresses here. There are Bronze Age stone statues of boars (known as verracio) nearby.
Ávila may have been the ancient town known as Abula, mentioned by Ptolemy in his Geographia (II 6, 60) as being located in the Iberian region of Bastetania. Abula is mentioned as one of the first cities in Hispania that was converted to Christianity by Secundus of Abula (San Segundo), however, Abula may alternatively have been the town of Abla.[2]
After the conquest by ancient Rome, the town was called Abila or Abela. The plan of the city remains typically Roman; rectangular in shape, with its two main streets (cardo and decumanus) intersecting at a forum in the center. Roman remains that are embedded in city walls at the eastern and southern entrances (now the Alcazar and Rastro Gates) appear to have been ashlar altar stones.[3]
By tradition, in the 1st century, Secundus, having travelled via the Roman province of Hispania Baetica, brought the Gospel to Avila, and was created its first bishop.[4]
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Ávila became a stronghold of the Visigoths. Conquered by the Arabs (who called it Ābila, آبلة), it was repeatedly attacked by the northern Iberian Christian kingdoms, becoming a virtually uninhabited no man's land. It was repopulated about 1088 following the definitive reconquest of the area by Raymond of Burgundy, son in law of Alfonso VI of León and Castile. He employed two foreigners, Casandro Romano and Florin de Pituenga, to construct a stone frontier city and creating the walls that still stand.[5]
The city achieved a period of prosperity under the Catholic Monarchs in the early 16th century, and their successors Charles V and Philip II of Spain, but began a long decline during the 17th century, reducing to just 4,000 inhabitants.
In the 19th century there was some population growth with the construction of the railway line from Madrid to the French border at Irun and an important junction near the city. In 1936, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the city quickly became part of the area occupied by rebel troops. Growth continued slowly again under Franco, but Ávila has not had a major influence in Spanish society in recent history, apart from the nurturing of politicians such as Adolfo Suárez, the first democratically-elected prime minister Spanish post-Franco, and José María Aznar, prime minister from 1996 to 2004, who represented Ávila in the Cortes but was not from the town.
Architecture[edit]
| Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches | |
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| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
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| Country | Spain |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv |
| Reference | 348 |
| UNESCO region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1985 (9th Session) |
The Walls of Ávila[edit]
Its main monument is the imposing Walls of Ávila (11th-14th centuries), the medieval work was started in 1090. The fenced area is of 31 hectares with a perimeter of approximately 2,516 meters, 88 blocks or semicircular towers, 2,500 merlons, paintings by 3 m. thick, an average height of 12 m. and 9 gates. It is the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is possible to walk upon the walls themselves for roughly half their circumference. Whilst some of the walls will never be navigable in this way because of their integration into other structures, there is a large stretch of the walls that have yet to be made safe for pedestrians.
Cathedral[edit]
The construction of the iron-grey granite Gothic Cathedral of Ávila is said to have commenced in 1107 under Alvar Garcia de Estrella. Other historians believe the Cathedral to be the work of the master mason Fruchel in the 12th century, coinciding with the repopulation of the city led by Raymond of Burgundy. The eastern apse, which forms part of the city walls, is half church, half fortress, and it was here that the loyal citizens elevated Alonso VII as their king, hence Ávila del Rey. The transept was finished in 1350 by Bishop Sancho de Ávila. The earlier Romanesque parts are made of a striking red-and-white "blood" limestone, while the Gothic parts were built with pure white stone
- Northern facade: Gothic style at left and added renaissance at right. Porch of the Apostles.
- Western front: Burgundian style, with two towers forming a covered portal.
- Interior: Latin cross with three naves, a crossing and ambulatory.
- Capilla Mayor: Features a monumental altarpiece by Pedro Berruguete.
- Chapel of San Segundo, the first bishop: Attached to a column of the cruise. Renaissance style.
- Chapel of Santa Catalina: Made of alabaster.
- Choir and Rood screen: Renaissance style, decorated with reliefs depicting scenes of saints, carved from limestone. The alabaster tomb of Alonso Tostado de Madrigal, bishop in 1499, shown in the act of writing is in the ambulatory: "so enlightened were his doctrines that they caused the blind to see".
- Cloister: Access from the Romanesque cathedral by a door on the south aisle. Gothic style.
Basílica de San Vicente[edit]
- Construction began in the 12th century and lasted until the 14th. Its design is attributed to the French master Giral Fruchel, the author himself from the cathedral and pioneer of the Gothic style in Spain.
- The overall structure is similar to the Latin basilicas. It has a Latin cross plan, three naves, dome, tribunes, three apses, atrium, two towers and crypt.
- All the facade and the environment where it is located are of great artistic value.
- Interior: Latin cross room with three naves. The pillars are of a Greek cross with half columns on the heads.
- Crypt: Consists of three chapels, for the three apses of the church are mainly romanesque and have the best capitals of the monument.
Highlight the tomb of Saint Peter of the Boat and, above all, the Cenotaph of the Holy Brothers Martyrs, the head of the temple, Saint Vincent of Ávila, and her sisters, along with the torture he suffered in the 4th century, Saint Sabina and Saint Cristeta, (Cenotafio de los santos Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta), one of the most important works of Romanesque sculpture in Spain.
Convento de San José[edit]
The Convent of Saint Joseph is the first monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns founded by Saint Teresa of Jesus. The convent was built in the year of 1562, although the most important architectural element, the church, was built in 1607. The Church was designed by the architect Francisco de Mora (1553-1610). It is a national monument since 1968.
Iglesia de San Pedro[edit]
- Start date: about 1100.
- It is located outside the city walls in the Plaza de Mercado Grande at the door of the Alcazar. Presents analogous with that of San Vicente.
- Latin cross floor and three naves of five sections. Apsidal chapels: mayor chapel, chapel of the south apse and chapel of the north apse.
Ermita de San Segundo[edit]
Beautiful hermitage located to the west of Ávila, outside the city walls, on the right bank of the Adaja river. Highlights the sculpted capitals in which the sculptor is the footprint of the apse of San Andrés. Alabaster statue made by Juan de Juni. Popular belief has it that introducing a handkerchief in the tomb and asking for three wishes, the saint granted one. His pilgrimage is celebrated on May 2, being the patron of Ávila.
Palacio de Don Diego del Águila[edit]
This 16th-century palace is located inside the wall and attached to it as junt walk through the door of San Vicente, defended the access of Muslim troops.[clarification needed] Located on a busy street by different arms of the Águila family.[clarification needed]
Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás[edit]
Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás is a Dominican convent in the late 15th century. Despite being away from the historic center, is one of the most important monuments of the city.
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles[edit]
Located 6 km from the capital, is this sanctuary in a beautiful area, housing a restaurant, hostel, picnic areas, playgrounds, etc.
There is located the statue of the Virgin of Sonsoles, co-patroness of Ávila and patroness of the fields in the province.
It is tradition in this city make pilgrimage to the sanctuary, making a wish to the Virgin and to get to the door barefoot until enter the church.
Civil architecture[edit]
Finally, in civil architecture, the Valderrábanos Palace (15th century), the Casa de los Deanes (16th century), the Torreón de los Guzmanes and the Verdugos Palace (15th-16th centuries) are the most important buildings.
Conference and Exhibition Centre Lienzo Norte[edit]
- In mid-2007, work began on the convention center. In April 2009 the construction was completed, opening its doors since then.
- The building designed by architect Francisco José Mangado is of modern style. Its extension is constructed of 19,800 m2 (213,125 sq ft), which would add the area corresponding to the neighboring gardens and parking.
- There is a large symphony hall, large glass galleries, café, restaurant, conference room, catering services, storage, reception, store room, etc.
- The symphony hall has a capacity for 2,000 guests and the secondary hall for 500. The two conference rooms have each 1,000 seats.
Museums and sights[edit]
- Museum of Ávila
- Museum of la Encarnación
- Museum of Santa Teresa
- Museum of the Cathedral
- Museo of Santo Tomás
- Museum of Oriental Art
- Museum of Natural Sciences
- Living Water
- Hall of Torreón de los Guzmanes
- Sala de la Diputación
- Sala del Episcopio
- Caprotti Museum (future museum located in the Superunda Palace currently under rehabilitation, which will house the work of Italian painter Guido Caprotti (1887–1966), based in Avila from 1916)[6]
Universities[edit]
Ávila has two universities: the Catholic University of Ávila (UCAV) and the University of Mysticism, which became operational on September 2, 2008.[citation needed] There are three colleges of the University of Salamanca (USAL): the Polytechnic School of Ávila, the College of Education and Tourism in Ávila, and the School of Nursing.
Sports buildings[edit]
- City Sport: swimming Pool, heated pool, tennis, paddle tennis, athletics, football, basketball, etc.
- North Zone: heated pool, football, basketball and tennis.
- Abulense Casino Club: pools, golf, tennis, paddle, cafeteria, restaurant, football, skating, basketball etc.
- Naturávila: golf, swimming, horse riding, walking, basketball, paddle tennis, football.
- San Antonio Sports Hall: in the north of the city is a large covered pavilion with basketball courts, tennis, soccer, squash, climbing.
- Polideportivo Carlos Sastre, on the outskirts of the city. His inauguration took place on January 30, 2009 by a friendly match between Óbila Club de Basket of LEB Plata and LEB Oro C.B. León. It has basketball courts, soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.
Popular celebrations[edit]
The first public festival after the winter cold is the Holy week. The temperature is cold, especially at night, so one should not forget warm clothes.
Ávila holidays are October 15, Santa Teresa de Jesús, and May 2, San Segundo. The festivities take place around October 15 and the Summer Festival in mid-July.
Holy Week[edit]
Holy Week as celebrated in Ávila is considered of national tourist interest. It is one of the highest expressions of art and wealth as seen in numerous steps of Holy Week along the city walls. Processions have either or fifteen or twelve fraternities.
Fiestas de Santa Teresa[edit]
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The festivities of Santa Teresa last almost the entire month of October. The proclamation is done by the mayor in the Plaza Mayor, accompanied by some celebrity. After the proclamation was organized in the same place a musical performance with renowned singers.
The festival program includes several musical concerts, a fairground, bullfights, passacaglia, processions of the fan groups, chocolate with churros and liturgical acts naturally focus on the day of the patroness, on 15 October with multitudinous mass presided by Bishop, then celebrated a great procession, headed the image of Santa Teresa with the Virgin of La Caridad, and is accompanied by all the authorities of Ávila, civil and military, and several bands music. The procession takes place between the Cathedral of Ávila and Santa Teresa Church. Takes place the day before the "Procession Girl" from the Iglesian de Santa Teresa to the Cathedral.inty
Gastronomy[edit]
Typical dishes of the city and region are "Judías del Barco", "Chuletón de Ávila", "Patatas revolconas" and "Yemas de Santa Teresa". Also worth mentioning is "Hornazo", "Bun stuffed with sausage, bacon, steak and eggs", "Mollejas de ternera" or the "Cochinillo", which can be found in the capital and in Arévalo.
Yemas de Santa Teresa[edit]
This sweet can always be found in the traditional pastry shop "La Flor de Castilla". In the other bakeries in the city it is produced under the name "Yemas de Ávila", or simply "Yemas", produced as its name indicates from egg yolk.
Chuletón de Ávila[edit]
This is a grilled T-bone steak, best cooked rare, which can be enjoyed in any hotel in the city. It is made from Avileña-Negra ibérica, an indigenous black cow of excellent meat, whose fame transcends the borders of the province and the country.
Judías del Barco[edit]
White beans from Barco de Ávila cooked with sausage, chorizo, ear, etc.
Sister cities[edit]
Vilanuèva d'Olt, France- Rueil-Malmaison, France
Teramo, Italy
Transport[edit]
The Ávila Railway Station serves the city.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Valores climatológicos normales - Ávila". Agencia Estatal de Meteorologica. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ Avitiano (December 23, 2008). "Abulenses". Centro de estudios abulenses. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- ^ Almarza, Armando Ríos (2007). Apuntes de Ávila. Ávila: Ayuntamiento de Ávila. ISBN 978-84-606-4259-6.
- ^ Rudd, Charles (1905). The Cathedrals of Northern Spain. Boston: L.C. Page & Co. at Project Gutenberg
- ^ Ford, Richard (1855). A handbook for travellers in Spain 2. London: John Murray. p. 744.
- ^ Estudio Caprotti
Further reading[edit]
- Parkinson Keyes, Frances (1957). The land of stones and saints. Doubleday.
(Lives of five famous people of the province of Avila, Spain, in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries: Isabel the Catholic, St Teresa of Ávila, St John of the Cross, María Vela and San Pedro Bautista)
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ávila |
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Ávila (city). |
- Avila's City Hall
- Avila's Tourist Guide
- Convent of St. Teresa, Ávila
- Ávila in the official website for Tourism in Spain (in English)
- Photos of Ávila
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Hazlitt, Classical Gazetteer "Abila"
- Citizens' association for the defence of heritage of Ávila - Photos of Ávila
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Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article Ávila. |
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
