Walled City Near Madrid
Madrid is a city almost without equal in Europe. The only thing that may outdo it is Avila, the walled city near Madrid.
Walled City Near Madrid
Madrid has so much going on it is often hard to drag yourself away from. You will, however, eventually need a break. A day trip to Avila, a walled city near Madrid, is definitely worth a trip. In fact, a visit to Avila is a must if you visit Spain. The city is so popular, there are over 20 trains a day from Madrid.
Avila is in the south of Old Castile, part of the Castile and Leon autonomous district. The city was originally known for Teresa of Avila, a Roman Catholic mystic. The cathedral in the city is also considered a masterpiece. Of course, you are probably most interested in the walls.
The Avila Walls are the second largest in the world. The amazing thing about the walls is their condition. They are in a near perfect state. Known as Las Murallas, the walls were built in the eleventh century. They are a couple miles long, average 40 feet in height and are a sight to see.
You might be wondering what the big deal is about a set of walls. The big deal is the near perfect state, incredible towers and magnificent gates. There are over 80 towers interspersed among the walls. The towers were used as part of the defensive fortification to pick off any attackers. They are in perfect shape and as high as 70 feet in some places, the equivalent of a six-story building.
There are nine gates into the walled city. Walk through them and you get an eerie feel for what it must have been like to live in ancient Spain.
You can visit the walled city near Madrid throughout the year. Happily, you can also walk across the top of the walls and up into the towers. Keep in mind Avila is at a high elevation. It can be cold in the winter and blazing hot in the summer.