4. Salamanca and Avila

World Heritage Cities

As well as country walks we can also do cultural tours, visiting Avila or Salamanca, which are 60Km away from us and are historically and architecturally two of the most beautiful Spanish cities.

Salamanca

Lying on a plateau by the Tormes River, the city was an important Roman comercial site, and their legacy can still be admired there, like the Roman bridge over the river. In the year 1218, Alfonso IX created the University of Salamanca. Soon it became one of the most significant and prestigious academic centres in Europe and still is, attracting thousands of students every year which makes it a very cosmopolitan town. Salamanca is considered one of the most spectacular Renaissance cities in Europe. Through the centuries the sandstone buildings have gained an exquisite golden glow that has given Salamanca the nickname, La Ciudad Dorada, the golden city. Some of the most remarkable buildings to see are the Main Square or Plaza Mayor, regarded as one of the finest squares in Europe and known as the living room of the Salamancans and the two cathedrals.

In this fantastic town the stunning architecture is just the setting for everyday life. We can walk along the old streets, discover beautiful corners and have tapas in any of the bars near the University; visit the churches, admire the carving on the buildings or have a drink in the square, everything at a relaxed pace.

For the history enthusiasts, we can also visit the sites of the Battle of Salamanca, in the Peninsular War of the Napoleonic Campaigns. This Peninsula War battle ground is similar today as when Wellington's forces beat the French here in 1812. This was one of the key battles of the Spanish War of Independence and what many historians believe to be one of Wellington's greatest victories. Two small hills, the Arapiles, are the centrepiece of the battle, the smaller from which Wellington spotted the weakness in the French deployment.

Avila

The Walls of Avila are one of the architectural gems of Spain. These medieval city walls were constructed of granite in 1090, with eighty-eight towers and nine gateways still in excellent repair, they are probably the best preserved walls in Europe. They are open to the public and you can go up onto the walkways and cover about 800m of its 2.5 Km perimetre on foot , looking around the city from above.

Some of the first inhabitants of this area during the Iron Age were the "Vettones" The most notable and permanent characteristic of this culture are their walled villages and hill forts. Some of their outstanding legacies include verracos de piedra, which are carved stone animals of unknown use.

One of their most remarkable settlements is Ulaca, near the city of Avila. This Iron age settlement has several interesting features, but it is its amazing altar complex carved from a single granite boulder which is the main attraction. There is also a wall and several houses.

On our visit to Avila we would start the day walking along the walls and then drive to the hills outside town in the Ambles valley, to the village of Vilaviciosa. From there we can start our ascent up to the hill of Ulaca. It is 300m high and 1.5Km, which can be easily covered in a couple of hours. The views from the top alone make it worth the climb.