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Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches
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How it came to be
Ávila sits on a rocky plateau more than 1,130 m above sea level in central Spain, the highest provincial capital in the country. After Alfonso VI retook Toledo in 1085, Castile set out to settle its exposed lands, and Ávila, founded in the 11th century as a defence against the Moors, is the best-known result.
The resettlement was led by Raymond of Burgundy, son-in-law of Alfonso VI. Work on the walls began in 1090, though most of the circuit was rebuilt in the 12th century. They run for 2,516 m, are on average 3 m thick and have nine gates from different periods. The apse of the cathedral doubles as one of the towers.
St Teresa was born in the town, and in 1562 she founded the Convent of San José, the first house of the Discalced Carmelite nuns. The walls were made a national monument in 1884, and in 1985 the old town and four Romanesque churches outside the walls were inscribed. Three more churches and three convents were added in 2007.
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