Plaza Mercado Chico is the main square in Avila which located in the city center. This historic pedestrian plaza is the right place to visit getting know about the city vibes. You can explore many city's landmarks in this square since it is surrounded by arcades with stone arches, town hall and church.
Considered as the greatest achievements of Romanesque architecture in Spain, San Vicente de Ávila finished build in two centuries from 11th to 13th. This catholic church has granite walls and an eye-catching texture like any other medieval buildings. This church was built on top of three Christians martyrs' (Vicente, Sabina and Cristeta) tomb.
You may head to Cactus Regalos Y Complementos to get some souvenirs to your beloved one. In this shop, you will any cute to artsy things which will remind you about the time while you are in Avila.
When you are in Avola, you should take a bite of Amarguillos, to mark your visit to the city. It is a sweet pastry which has varied presentation and ingredients depends on where it was produced. The most common Amarguillos is made from almonds, eggs and sugar.
When September comes every year, the city reaches its busiest time to prepare the Medieval Festival. You will see the locals dressing up like monks, knights, even king walking down to the street. You will smell incensed and hear melodic screams of the medieval merchants. Surely it will bring you back to the medieval era.
The best time to visit Avila is from March to May when the spring is around the corner and the temperature is warm.
Do you ever wonder how it feels to sleep at a 16th-century palace? You may book a room at Hotel Palacio de Los Velada to know how it feels. This hotel is located in the heart of the city and still preserve its original architecture, so spending some nights in this hotel may give you more than a stay experience. Still, in the same complex, Hotel Palacio Valderrábanos is the right place to stay if you bring your four-legged buddy on vacation because this hotel is pet-friendly. The hotel has a modern style but still has 14th-century palace vibes by its architecture.
You have to try the authentic cuisine of Avila in Mesón del Rastro to giving a nice impression on your taste buds about the city. The restaurant firstly opened in 1885 and still preserve its original interior and exterior until today. On the other hand, Revolutum always packed with locals and tourists who loved to have a meal in a homey atmosphere. The pastel color furniture and low light, bring such a warm and cosy vibe once you arrived in the restaurant.
Café Fortaleza is such a great place for you if you are looking for a coffee shop with a laid back atmosphere. Whether coffee latte or espresso you have to make sure that a piece of the sweet cake comes along with that. But if you prefer to sip caffeine or a pot of tea in a homey vibe, you may head to Café del Mercado. The shop has a living room concept with comfortable sofa and lives music.
You can sip a cold beer while enjoying the majestic charm of the old city wall in Alavirulé. This tapas bar has modern decor which offers indoor and outdoor seating. Another cool bar to go is Barraca brewery which offers a great cocktail and coffee if you are not an alcoholic. This bar is located in Convento de San Jose complex, so it is easy to reach after exploring the city's landmark.
Museo de Ávila is the right place to go when you want to getting know about the city's history. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport grouping the museum collection into three, there are Archaeological, Fine Arts, and Ethnographic collection. On the other hand, the historic of Catedral de Ávila always worth to explore since it was the first two Gothic cathedrals in Spain. The cathedral shows French influences and great resemblances to the Abbey Church of St Denis, the first European Gothic church.
Take some snaps from the most iconic wall in the city, Muralla de Ávila so you can prove that you have been to Avila. This 2.5km-long walls were built n 12th century and was made from granite sandstone and brick. Lastly, to wrap up your visit to Avila, you have to capture the majestic charm of Convento de Santa Teresa with your camera. This church was build in the 17th century in a place where Saint Teresa of Avila was born.