Ávila
Encyclopedia
History
Vettones
The Vettones were one of the pre-Roman Celtic peoples of the Iberian Peninsula .- Origins :...
, who called it Obila ("High Mountain") and had here one of their strongest fortresses.
Ávila may have been the ancient town known as Abula, mentioned by Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
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
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
that was Christianized
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, specifically by Saint Secundus
Secundus of Abula
Saint Secundus or Secundius is venerated as a Christian missionary and martyr of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Abula, which has been identified as either Ávila or Abla, and became its first bishop....
(San Segundo). However, Abula may have been the town of Abla
Abla
-External links: - Diputación Provincial de Almería...
.
After the conquest by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, it was called Abila or Abela. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, Ávila was a stronghold of the Visigoths. Conquered by the Arabs (who called it Ābila, آبلة), it was repeatedly attacked by the northern Iberian Christian kingdoms, after which it remained virtually uninhabited. It was repopulated in the 11th century, after the definitive capture of the area by the Christians, under Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy was the fourth son of William I, Count of Burgundy, and was Count of Amous. He came to the Iberian Peninsula for the first time during the period 1086–1087 with Odo I, Duke of Burgundy...
.
The city lived a period of prosperity under the Catholic Monarchs
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
(early 16th century) and their successors Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, but decayed again starting from the 18th century, when it reduced to just 4,000 inhabitants.
Cathedral
In religious architecture, stands the CathedralCathedral of Ávila
The Cathedral of Ávila is a Gothic church in Ávila in the south of Old Castile, Spain.It was planned as a cathedral-fortress, its apse being one of the turrets of the city walls...
(12th-15th century) and military function his fortified
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
bedside, the romanesque
Romanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
churches of San Vicente
San Vicente, Ávila
The Basilica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta, best known as Basilica de San Vicente, is a church in Ávila, Spain...
(12th-14th centuries) and San Pedro and the Monastery of Santo Tomás (15th century residence summer of the Catholic Monarchs
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
).
The master Fruchel begins works inspired by the Basilica of St Denis church giving the appearance of sobriety and classicism, brings with it the early gothic structures, making the work in initiating the penetration of gothic architecture. In the 14th century Bishop D. Sancho Dávila reactive the works.
-
- Northern facade: Gothic style at left and added renaissance at right. Portada de los Apóstoles.
- Western front: Burgundian style, with two towers forming a covered gateway.
- Interior: Latin cross with three naves, a crossingCrossing (architecture)A crossing, in ecclesiastical architecture, is the junction of the four arms of a cruciform church.In a typically oriented church , the crossing gives access to the nave on the west, the transept arms on the north and south, and the choir on the east.The crossing is sometimes surmounted by a tower...
and ambulatoryAmbulatoryThe ambulatory is the covered passage around a cloister. The term is sometimes applied to the procession way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar....
. - Mayor Chapel: It highlights the monumental altarpieceAltarpieceAn altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
by Pedro BerruguetePedro BerruguetePedro Berruguete was a Spanish painter; his art is regarded as a transitional style between gothic and Renaissance. Born in Paredes de Nava, Spain, he went to Italy in 1480 and worked in Federico III da Montefeltro's court in Urbino, where he could see some works by Melozzo da Forlì...
from 1499 until his death. - Altar of San Segundo: Attached to a column of the cruise. Renaissance style.
- Altar of Santa Catalina: Made of alabasterAlabasterAlabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
. - Choir and Rood screen: Renaissance style, is designed with two highs of seats and decorated with reliefs depicting scenes of saints. The rood screenRood screenThe rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
is a work carved in limestone. - Cloister: Access from the romanesqueRomanesque artRomanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
cathedral by a door from the south aisle. GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style.
Basílica de San Vicente
- 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 basilicaBasilicaThe Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
s. It has a Latin cross plan, three naves, dome, tribunesTribune (architecture)Tribune is an ambiguous — and often misused — architectural term which can have several meanings. Today it most often refers to a dais or stage-like platform, or — in a vaguer sense — any place from which a speech can be prominently made.-Etymology:...
, three apseApseIn architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
s, atriumAtrium (architecture)In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
, two towers and cryptCryptIn architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
. - 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 romanesqueRomanesque artRomanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
and have the best capitalsCapital (architecture)In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
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 Avila, 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.
Iglesia de San Pedro
- Start Date: about 1100.
- It is located outside the city walls in the PlazaPlazaPlaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
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
Beautiful hermitage located to the west of Avila, 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 JuniJuan de Juni
Juan de Juni was a French–Spanish sculptor, who also worked as a painter and architect.-Career:...
. 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 Avila.
Palacio de Don Diego del Águila
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. Located on a busy street by different arms of the Águila family.Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás
Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás is a DominicanDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
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
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
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.The Walls of Ávila
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 merlonMerlon
In architecture, a merlon forms the solid part of an embattled parapet, sometimes pierced by embrasures. The space between two merlons is usually called a crenel, although those later designed and used for cannons were called embrasures.-Etymology:...
s, paintings by 3 m. thick, an average height of 12 m. and 9 gates. It is the largest fully illuminated monument in the world.
Conference and Exhibition Centre Lienzo Norte
- 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 19800 m² (23,681 sq yd), 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 haves each one 1,000 seats.
Museums and culturals
- 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
- Museum Caprotti (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).
Universities
Avila has 2 Universities:- Catholic University of ÁvilaCatholic University of ÁvilaSaint Teresa of Jesus Catholic University, , commonly known as the Catholic University of Ávila , is a private, Catholic university, located in Ávila, Castile and León, Spain...
(UCAV). - University of Mysticism, which became operational on September 2, 2008.
And 3 colleges to the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
(USAL)
- The Polytechnic School of Avila.
- The College of Education and Tourism in Avila.
- The School of Nursing
Sports buildings
- 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.
- Naturavila: 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 Óvila Club de Basket of LEBLiga Española de BaloncestoLiga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
Plata and LEBLiga Española de BaloncestoLiga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
C.B. León has basketball courts, soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.
Popular celebrations
The first public festival after the winter cold is the Holy weekHoly Week in Spain
Spain is especially renowned for its Holy Week traditions or Semana Santa. Holy Week, the last week of Lent, which is the week immediately before Easter, sees its most glamorous celebrations in the region of Andalusia, particularly in Seville, while those of Castile see the more sombre and solemn...
. The temperature is cold, especially at night, so one should not forget warm clothes.
Avila 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
The Holy week as celebrated in Avila is considered of national tourist interest. It is one of the highest expressions of art and wealth as seen in numerous steps of Holy weekHoly Week in Spain
Spain is especially renowned for its Holy Week traditions or Semana Santa. Holy Week, the last week of Lent, which is the week immediately before Easter, sees its most glamorous celebrations in the region of Andalusia, particularly in Seville, while those of Castile see the more sombre and solemn...
along the city walls. Processions have fifteen and twelve fraternities.
Fiestas de Santa Teresa
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
Passacaglia
The passacaglia is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used by contemporary composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often, but not always, based on a bass-ostinato and written in triple metre....
, 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 Avila and Santa Teresa Church. Takes place the day before the "Procession Girl" from the Iglesian de Santa Teresa to the Cathedral.
Gastronomy
- 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 "HornazoHornazoHornazo is a Spanish meat pie eaten in the provinces of Salamanca and Ávila. It is made with flour and yeast and stuffed with pork loin, spicy chorizo sausage and hard-boiled eggs....
", "Bun stuffed with sausage, bacon, steak and eggs", "Mollejas de ternera" or the "CochinilloSuckling pigA suckling pig is a piglet fed on its mother's milk . In culinary, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in various cuisines...
", which can be found in the capital and in Arévalo.
Yemas de Santa Teresa
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
This is a grilled T-bone steakT-bone steak
The T-bone and Porterhouse are steaks of beef cut from the short loin and including a T-shaped bone with meat on each side: the larger is a strip steak and the smaller a tenderloin steak...
, best cooked rare, which can be enjoyed in any hotel in the city. It is made from Avileña-Negra ibérica, an indigenous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
black cow of excellent meat, whose fame transcends the borders of the province and the country.
Judías del Barco
White beans from Barco de AvilaEl Barco de Ávila
El Barco de Ávila is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain.-Main sights:*Castle *Casa del Reloj*Romanesque bridge*Hermitage of Santísimo Cristo del Caño...
cooked with sausage, chorizo
Chorizo
Chorizo is a term encompassing several types of pork sausages originating from the Iberian Peninsula.In English, it is usually pronounced , , or , but sometimes ....
, ear, etc.
Sister cities
Vilanuèva d'OltVilleneuve-sur-Lot
Villeneuve-sur-Lot is a town and commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France. The commune was formerly named Villeneuve-d'Agen....
, France Rueil-Malmaison
Rueil-Malmaison
Rueil-Malmaison is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, in the Hauts-de-Seine department of France. It is located 12.6 kilometers from the center of Paris.-Name:...
, France Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
, Italy