Off to Ávila on a cultural, historical and gastronomical inquiry

Madrid is a great base for day trips to nearby cities, like Ávila, which is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Last April while in Madrid we took a day trip to Ávila, about an hour's drive to the northwest of Madrid. The countryside surrounding this northwestern city consists of rolling hills. It is the capital of Ávila province and at 1,131 meters elevation it is the highest provincial capital in Spain. Off we went to Ávila on a cultural, historical and gastronomical adventure.

Walls of Ávila © Spaswinefood

Ávila was founded in the 11th century. They built a wall around the city to protect this Spanish territory from the Moors. Ávila is located in the autonomous community of Castile and León (Castile y León), which was created in 1983 by grouping the provinces of León, Zamora, Salamanca (traditionally were the León region), Ávila, Burgos, Palencia, Segovia, Soria and Valladolid (the Old Castile region). The  Castile and León region contains eleven World Heritage Sites, making it (along with Italy's Lombardia) the region with most UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Welcome to Ávila 

Ávila was awarded the World Heritage designation in 1985 by the UNESCO. It is best known for its intact medieval city walls, with over 80 crenelated, semicircular towers and nine gates, including the arched El Alcázar, on the eastern side. The Puerta del Alcazar (Gate of the Fortress) is one of the gates into the old city, through the Walls of Ávila. Avila's city walls are the main symbol of the province. 

Closer Look at the Walls of Ávila © Spaswinefood

Obviously, we came to visit the historic center of Ávila, the old city behind the walls.

Entrance to the Walled City of Ávila © Spaswinefood

Cathedral de Ávila © Spaswinefood

During our walk around historic Ávila we enjoyed getting to discover a little of its rich history.

Touring Ávila © Spaswinefood

On Tour: Ávila © Spaswinefood

Touring Historic Ávila © Spaswinefood

The main plaza inside the walls is called Plaza del Ayuntamiento, or El Chico.

Plaza Mayo: El Chico © Spaswinefood

While exploring Ávila I sighted some murals on the buildings, which showcased some of the city's history.

Mural, Avila© Spaswinefood

Mural of a Medieval Horseman, Ávila © Spaswinefood

During our walkabout we stopped by the Palacio de los Verdugo on Calle Lope Núñez, near the Gate of San Vicente. 

Palacio de los Verdugo © Spaswinefood

Signage for Palacio de los Verdugo © Spaswinefood

Besides Ávila being known for its cultural heritage, it  is also a Smart Heritage city.

Saint Vincente Bascilica © Spaswinefood

Ávila has plenty of cultural and historical information to discover.

Ávila Walls © Spaswinefood

While I was impressed by this city I still wanted insights into its gastronomic offers. For visitors who would like to check out the wine and food scene Ávila is also worthy. 

Gastronomy of Ávila and Castile y León 

While Ávila is not known for its wines you can find wineries and wine tourism experiences in the broader Castile and León region, where Ávila is located. The Castile y León wine region has much to offer. Here red wines rule, with the Tempranillo grape variety (various synonyms Tinta del Pais, Tinto de Toro and Tinto Fino) being unquestionably the king. It is the grape behind all of the region's finest wines except Bierzo, which is produced from Mencia, a red wine grape native to the northwest area of Spain. The French varieties grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Its white wines, are produced mainly from the white grapes Verdejo and Viura. While the region produces far fewer white wines than the reds, they are only marginally less prestigious. Castilla y Léon is one of the most important wine regions in Spain, which combines notable DOs (Denominaciones de Origen) such as Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda and Bierzo. Its Vino de la Tierra  covers the entire wine region. This classification has much less restrictive regulations, and a wide range of grape varieties are permitted, which also gives winemakers a chance to work on less-traditional wine styles. Clearly, this overall wine region has much to offer.

Ávila's cuisine has its roots in local products, lots of meats and excellent pulses (edible seeds of plants in the legume family). Its cuisine shows strong Muslim, Hebrew and Christian influences. Roasts and veal steaks are only a few of the dishes that make up the cuisine of this province. Meat loving foodies might want to try "El chuletón de Ávila". Chuletón (a big piece of meat) is a meat plate typical of Ávila province for which this area is know. You will also find meat products sold in the shops. If you are looking for something sweet you will find wonderful cakes and pastries. It is especially renowned for "yemas de Santa Teresa" (a sweet made with egg yolk and sugar). If you are looking to enjoy a drink with tapas, you may even get a complementary tapa served with a drink in this town.

We stayed in Central Madrid, which was the perfect location for exploring nearby cities. While a day trip to Ávila was a great introduction I would recommend a longer visit of one or two nights to enjoy its gastronomy, and have more time for cultural and historical explorations.

Off to Explore Behind the Ávila Walls © Spaswinefood

Without a doubt a day trip to check out Ávila's historical sites while doing some preliminary gastronomic explorations are a perfect mix. It is certainly the perfect place for a combo historical and culinary adventure. Ávila is packed with historical sites, restaurants, and there is also plenty of Spanish wine to discover. I invite you to join me in my wine travel adventures in Spain and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood  on Bluesky and Facebook. 

CHEERS! 

Sharon
April 2025
Ávila, Spain

© Spaswinefood

Central Madrid, Spain © Spaswinefood

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