World Heritage Cities in Spain

CITIES

It's a short walk to the fortified tow- er of Los Guzmanes , which is current- ly the headquarters of the Provincial Government . You can then continue as far as the Plaza del Mercado Chico in the centre of the city where the old Roman forum used to be located. There you'll see the beautiful façades of the Town Hall and of the Church of San Juan Bautista . While you're there you should try one of the restaurants around the square where they serve local spe- cialities like the renowned Ávila T-bone steak, casseroles, white beans from El Barco and desserts like Yemas de Ávila (typical local pastries). Or you could try the famous tapas , delicious aperitifs to accompany a beer or a glass of wine. Ávila is the provincial capital locat- ed at the highest altitude in Spain. Throughout its history, Ávila has been the birthplace of famous Spanish mys- tics such as San Juan de la Cruz and Santa Teresa de Jesús . To learn more about the person known locally as La Santa, or the "Saintess", you should visit the Monastery of La Encarnación where the abbess spent most of her life.

Outside the city walls you should visit the stately Casa de los Deanes . It cur- rently houses the Ávila Museum , which has fascinating sections dedicated to archaeology, ethnography and fine arts. You could also visit the Post-Medieval Hornos or Ovens, interesting remains of a pottery workshop located in the Calle del Marqués de Santo Domingo. And outside the walls towards the north, the Sepharad Memorial Garden , in grounds where there the city's Jewish cemetery used to stand. Next comes the Royal Monastery of Santo Tomás , the construction of which was finished during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. It was once the seat of the inquisition and a university, and what were once its royal rooms are now home to the Museum of Oriental Art . Your visit to this ancient city ends at the Los Cuatro Postes lookout point . From here you'll have the very best view of this extraordinary medieval complex. L L For further information go to: www.avilaturismo.com

b b ÁVILA

Photo: World Heritage Cities

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