The Walled City of Ávila

Having already been stunned by Salamanca's beautiful sights, it was time for me to start exploring some of Castilla y León's other hidden gems, starting with the old walled town of Ávila. I was lucky enough to be taken there by a friend from Salamanca who knew the town and all of its delights from his childhood memories, so there was plenty to be seen, done…and eaten!

First was the cathedral, a beautiful monument which, even on the rainy day that it was, stood with pride. Its interior was even more spectacular and the guide leaflet explained how it provides a classic example of how style was changing from Romanesque to Gothic during its construction. Its history is also interesting as it was built just after the Catholic Spaniards successfully took back the region and expelled the Moors and Jews during the Reconquista. Later on, it also protected a young Alfonso IX until he became king.

Once a bit of history had been learnt, we moved on to Ávila's most predominant feature: its city wall or muralla, which has been extremely well preserved. The (very steep!) stone staircase that led us to the top was pretty tiring, but once there, it was the perfect place to stop and take a moment to relax. Even with the persistent grey sky, the view was simply stunning. The wall took us round each side of the city and looked over the historic buildings and streets, as well as the surrounding hills. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't have the best drainage system and after carelessly walking through several puddles hidden in the old stone walkways my feet were wet through!

After a fairly lengthy walk around the wall, a taste of some local food was well deserved. Reputed for the quality of its cuisine, the town had plenty of cafes and restaurants to offer, and for reasonable prices. So we found shelter in a quaint restaurant, where I was to try a typical dish that was essentially a mix of mashed potato and pork scratchings, but was nevertheless delicious. It was followed by a very chocolately and creamy dessert, which definitely made up for the rain!

Some further exploration of the city followed, which went on a little longer than intended when we got lost in Ávila's labyrinth of narrow streets, which, unbelievably, cars are still able to drive down. However it was definitely worth staying until nightfall to see the muralla lit up and even more impressive than ever.

The only disappointment of the day came in the form of the town's traditional sweets, the Yemas de Ávila. I had been promised since our arrival that these local delicacies, made primarily from egg yolks and sugar were simply deliciosas, that they were unique, but very tasty. However, as I enthusiastically popped one into my mouth, all I could taste was egg yolk with a more chewy texture, whilst my friend was going for a second. Definitely worth a try, but not for everyone!

But whilst the Yemas may be an acquired taste, I'd recommend Ávila itself as the perfect place to spend any quiet afternoon.