Puerta del Alcázar (Ávila)

City Gate in Ávila

Murallas De Avila, Puerta Del Alcazar
CC BY-SA 3.0 / AdriPozuelo

The Puerta del Alcazar (Gate of the Fortress) is one of the Gates into the old city, through the Walls of Ávila. The Puerta del Alcazar is flanked by twin towers, 20 metres high, linked by a semicircular arch (this is a singular and unique element among European walls). Under the bridge there is a series of corbels that probably served to support the cantilevered walkway and further down other large corbels that could be the supports of a wooden scaffold or some piece of the drawbridge structure. When it was built it had a moat and a barbican, a building or fortified gate located in front of the wall.

The city wall of Ávila was started to be built in 1090 by Raymond of Burgundy. Most of the walls appear to have been rebuilt in the 12th century. The enclosed area is a rectangle of 31 hectares (77 acres) with a perimeter of some 2,516 metres (8,255 ft), including 90 semi-circular crenelated towers. The walls have an average width of 3 metres (9.8 ft). They have an average height of 12 metres (39 ft). The wall has nine fortified gates.

 

 

The Puerta del Alcázar (Ávila) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Ávila!

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Visiting Puerta del Alcázar (Ávila)

Hours:

24 Hours


Price:

Free

Address: Puerta del Alcázar C. Don Gerónimo, 17 05001 Ávila Spain
Duration: 5 minutes

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