One of the gates of the City Walls. The Puerta del Carmen (Gate of El Carmen) is interesting as it has a skewed entrance. This means that to gain access from the outside, a turn is necessary, which prevents it from being approached head-on. This formula was very common in Moslem military architecture and guaranteed a better defence system by impeding a head-on attack. It also differs from other entrances because the turrets around it have a square layout.

This is one of the access points to the city Walls.

This building dates from the beginning of the 16th century and is made of granite ashlar work and masonry. The porch is decorated in Plateresque style with military motifs and the courtyard lintels are decorated with medallions.

The Palace is set around a quadrangular central courtyard surrounded by galleries and each front has five columns, with monolithic shafts, Doric capitals and bases. The first-floor gallery is made up of shorter columns which also support sculpted lintels and coats of arms. The tributes room is of particular interest, with an important coffered ceiling made of wooden coffers and beams set on carved corbels.

Today it is used as the Military History Archive and Army Museum.

The Plaza del Mercado Chico occupies the former space of a Roman forum, with the 19th-century Ayuntamiento (town hall) facing across the expanse to the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista.

This church is of Romanesque origin and was completely refurbished in Gothic style with unquestionable Renaissance influences at the beginning of the 16th century.

The palace was built between the 13th century and the 16th. For this reason, a juxtaposition of styles can be noticed in its design. The oldest part seems to be the gate of the Rastro, or street market. The palace is attached to the fortified wall.

The convent, inaugurated in 1636, was built on the site of the birthplace of Saint Teresa of Avila and designed by the architect Fray Alonso de San José. It is worth a visit especially as it is free to enter! Highlights include the church’s Baroque façade, and the interior with a Latin cross floor plan, whose side naves contain magnificent sculptures by the master Gregorio Fernández.

The Museum of Saint Teresa stands next to it.

One of the gates to the south side of the City.

The Puerta del Alcázar is on of the most impressive entrances to the City.

The Romanesque Catedral was begun in the 12th century as a part of the city’s walls that were being built during the same period. Its apse, known to parishioners as the cimorro, is part and parcel of the defensive structure of the walls. The main façade is relatively modest in styling, save for the large Gothic window and the tower rising over it. The interior, on the other hand, is more elaborate than a fortress structure might suggest; it conforms to the traditional shape of a Latin cross, lit by the sunlight cast through stained glass, with a fancily painted high altarpiece, carved choir stalls and nine chapels.

The main landmark in the city is the imposing Walls of Ávila (11th–14th centuries), begun in 1090.The walls were likely constructed around the turn of the 12th century while the
self-proclaimed “Emperor of all Spain,” King Alfonso VI, was busily reconsolidating the Castilian regions from the Moors. The walls, actually one continuous expanse, wrap around the city for a length of 2½ km (1½ miles), with a total of nine gates, 88 watchtowers and well over 2,000 turrets.

The walls represent the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is possible to walk upon the walls for roughly half their circumference. While some of the walls will never be walkable because of their integration into other structures, a large stretch has yet to be made safe for pedestrians.

You will have great views of San Vicente de ÁvilaSan Vicente de Ávila as you walk around.

You can either leave the wall at Puerta del Carmen or continue on to the Muralla De Avila on the western wall.