The 5 Best Daytrips from Madrid One of the best things about Madrid is its proximity to some of Spain’s most beautiful and historic towns. In fact, some of them are at the top of my list of favorite towns/cities in ALL of Spain. Below I list 5 great day trips from Madrid. All 5 […]
Why Ávila Cathedral is one of my favorite Cathedrals in Spain
Ávila Cathedral is Spain’s oldest Gothic Cathedral. Construction started in 1091 but wasn’t completed until the 14th century. It is very different from the lofty, glamourous Cathedrals of nearby Segovia and Salamanca which were built in the late Gothic period (16th century). It also predates other early Gothic Cathedrals such as the Cathedral of Burgos (1221 – […]
What to see in Ávila (Spain)
Ávila is a popular daytrip from Madrid, a city full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Historically, Ávila was a battlefront between Christians and Moors. Following the reconquest of the area by the Christians in the late 11th century, it became known as Ávila de los Caballeros (“Ávila of the Nobles”) because of the settlement of […]
The Medieval Walls of Ávila
There are plenty of sights in Ávila but the key highlight, and the reason to go there, are the city’s Medieval Walls*. Fully intact and surrounding the town (with a 2.5 km perimeter), they are the best-preserved Medieval Walls in Spain and are the primary reason why Ávila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. * There […]
