Where can you sleep?
There is plenty of accommodation here in Ávila. Due to its location, it is a favoured destination by those who are used to the intense lifestyle of a city like Madrid thanks to its close distance from it,specially during the weekend or for a winter escapade
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The small villages that surround the capital, a UNESCO inscribed world heritage site, are an ideal options for a break from daily routine.
Amongst the more popular ones is Arévalo, at 800 m from the ground, and at very close distance to Segovia and Valladolid, where you can also visit its castle.
In Arenas de San Pedro are waiting for you the Cuevas del Águila and its gothic castle, which is visited by tourists every year. There's also el Barco de Ávila, with the perfect panoramic view of the Sierra de Gredos , another of the most popular destinations in this province.
But if you'd like to have an idea of the main places of interest, and all the possibilities for a weekend getaway, >we have some options for you.
What to do in the area?
Ávila offers a great variety of activities you can do, from active tourism to cultural visits.
Its structure and distribution cannot be understood without the historical heritage that have made it become a UNESCO world heritage site.
You can make your first stop in the city walls, dating from the Middle Ages, and one of the best preserved of Spain, and which was accurately built according to their time.
Afterwards, you can't forget to visit the Cuatro Postes, o plan a trip to the Cuevas del Águila caves.
If you would like to imagine yourself in a palace, we have a few of them for you: the ones in Dávila, and the one of Blasco Núñez Vela. And you won't be missing churches, convents and cathedrals either, since this is a region of deeply-rooted religious tradition. One of the main religious buildings you will find here is the Santa Teresa convent, and the Basílica of San Vicente.
As you can see, there is a broad tourist offer waiting for you in this area.
What typical foods are recommended?
To eat in Ávila is truly a unique and exquisite experience. With a predominance of very filling meals that have been inherited from the history of this region, and its connection with agricultural activity, and physical labour.
If you coe to Ávila, forget about diets and eating light, and get ready to enjoy, because if there's something that is typical here, is its cuisine.
Some of the more traditional dishes you will find here and that you must try are, amongst others, the so famous chuletón de Ávila, a huge lamb steak that you won't be able to miss it when you spot it. Meat is a key element of the local gastronomy, so it's almost like worship here with meat.
Patatas revolconas, served as a tapa in most places, the traditional sopa castellana, or cochinillo asado (roasted sucking pig), will normally complete your menu here in Ávila.
As for dessert? Well, you won't miss out on anything here. What best than the famous Yemas de Santa Teresa, a sweet loca delicacy made of egg yolk, to finish up this culinary journey.
Where are the festivities?
In Ávila, like in most provinces in Spain, you will be met with a calendar with plenty of local festivities dedicated to its many local saints and patron saints.
If you want to make the most spending a few days of rural tourism, you cannot miss the local festivities of San Roque in the town of Piedralaves, celebrated during August.
If you're near Lanzalahita, we can recommend the Romería del Cristo de la Luz, a very important event here, just like the festivities celebrated to honour Nuestra Señora de Chilla, in the town of Candeleda.
And if you're visiting during Easter holidays, all you need to know is that wherever you go, you will be the witness of many cofradías, pasos and many other religious traditions that are typical here in Spain, and which are celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in this area.
