World Heritage Photos

Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The Old Town of Ávila has the most complete fortifications in Spain. The Town of Ávila, the 'City of Saints and Stones', was founded in the 11th century to protect the Spanish territories. The construction of the fortifications started in 1090 and include 88 semicircular towers and nine gates. The Cathedral of Ávila is the second oldest Gothic cathedral in Spain, the oldest one is the Cathedral of Cuenca. The Cathedral of Ávila was built as an integral part of the fortifications of Ávila .The Town of Ávila has a large number of Romanesque style churches inside and outside the medieval walls. Among the churches built outside the town walls of Ávila are the 12th century Basilica de San Vicente, and the Hermitage of Santa Maria de la Cabeza, built in the Romanesque and Mudéjar styles. Ávila is located 112 km northwest of Madrid and about 70 km from Segovia. The Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: A heavy snow shower looming over the town walls of Ávila. One of the best ways to see the Old Town of Ávila is to have a stroll on top of the town the walls. The most notable monuments of Avila are the medieval town walls, the churches and the monasteries. The Old Town of Avila with its Extra-Muros Churches gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The Old Town of Ávila is still surrounded by its medieval town walls. The Old Town of Ávila has the most complete fortifications in Spain. One of the entrances to the medieval town walls of Ávila is next to the apse of the cathedral. The Town of Ávila is a Spanish provincial capital city situated at the highest altitude of all provincial capital cities in Spain, it is situated at an altitude of 1130 metres above sea level.

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   Even today, the medieval fortified town walls still completely surround of the Old Town of Ávila. The construction of the town walls and fortifications started in 1090 and include 88 semicircular towers and 9 gates. The walls of the Old Town of Ávila have an average breadth of 3 metres and an average height of 12 metres, the perimeter is about 2,516 metres. The Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The Basilica de San Vicente viewed from the walls of the town of Ávila. The 12th century basilica is mostly in Romanesque style. The Basilica de San Vicente was built outside the walls of Ávila on the site of the martyrdom of San Vicente. He was martyred during the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Inside the church stands the tomb of the Christian St. Vicente, in the crypt stands a rock said to be the site of his martyrdom.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The Puerta del Carmen, the Carmen Gate, and its tower. The south side is the lowest part of the town walls of Ávila, the north side and the west side are stronger, the east side is the most strongest part of the walls. Nine gates provide access into the Old Town of Ávila. Most of the gates were built in the 12th century. The strongest gates are the Alcazar Gate and the San Vicente Gate.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The apse of the Cathedral of Ávila forms one of the towers of the medieval walls of Ávila, the tower was responsible for the defence of the Gate of the Loyal Ones, the Puerta de los Leales. The Cathedral of Ávila was built as an integral part of the fortifications. The 12th century cathedral is the second oldest Gothic cathedral in Spain. Also several private houses were also built against the town walls.

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: The Los Cuatro Postes, the Four Posts, was built in 1556. The Four Posts is a historic monument situated about 1.5 km outside the town of Ávila. The Four Posts offers a spectacular view over the historic town of Ávila with its medieval town walls. There are several legends about the Four Posts, some of them are associated with Teresa of Ávila, an eminent Spanish mystic, writer and reformer, she was born in Ávila in 1515. 

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   Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches: Several storks nesting on top of the bell tower of the Hermitage of Santa María de la Cabeza. The small church is situated just outside the walls of Ávila. The construction of the church started in the Romanesque style, followed by the naves in the Mudejar style. The Santa María de la Cabeza was consecrated in 1210. Several churches were built outside the walls of the Old Town of Ávila.