Page 420 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Sierra de Guadarrama. €5/free; h10am-8pm Tue- the sandstone Basílica
There are many vantage Sun; c) can be climbed – de San Vicente (Plaza de
points to take in the full a 300m stretch that can San Vicente; admission €2;
effect, but our favourite be accessed from just h10am-6.30pm Mon-Sat,
can be found anywhere inside the Puerta del 4-6pm Sun).
in the gardens near the Alcázar, and a longer
entrance to the Alcázar. 1300m stretch that runs 4 p424
the length of the old The Drive » The N501 runs
54 p424 city’s northern perimeter. northwest of Ávila to Salamanca,
The Drive » It’s 66km The best views are those in the process traversing the
from Segovia to Ávila along at night from Los Cuatro pancake-flat high meseta
the N110. The road runs Postes, a short distance (plateau) of central Spain and
southwest, parallel to the Sierra northwest of the city. covering 96km en route.
de Guadarrama, with some Ávila is also the home
excellent views en route. At TRIP HIGHLIGHT
around the halfway mark, you’ll city of Santa Teresa, with
cross the A6 motorway. the Convento de Santa 4 Salamanca
Teresa (%920 21 10 30; Salamanca is a special
Plaza de la Santa; h8.45am- place: its perfect mix
3 Ávila 1.30pm & 3.30-9pm Tue-Sun) of eye-catching archi-
Ávila’s old city, sur- as its centrepiece. Other tecture and animated
important religious
rounded by imposing streets make it one of our
12th-century murallas high points include the favourite cities in Spain.
SPAIN 30 HISTORIC CASTILLA Y LEÓN
(walls) comprising eight Catedral del Salvador The city is at its best as
monumental gates, 88 (Plaza de la Catedral; admission day turns the corner into
watchtowers and more €4; h10am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, night.
than 2500 turrets, is one 10am-8pm Sat, noon-6.30pm
of the best-preserved Sun), the Monasterio de 54 p424
medieval-walled cities Santo Tomás (www.mon- The Drive » The N630 runs
in Spain. Two sections of asteriosantotomas.com; Plaza due north from Salamanca to
the Murallas (muralladeav- de Granada 1; admission €4; Zamora (67km), a relatively
h10am-1pm & 4-8pm) and
ila.com; adult/child under 12yr quiet road by Spanish standards

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:
FROG-SPOTTING IN SALAMANCA
Arguably a lot more interesting than trainspotting (and you don’t have to wear an
anorak and drink tea from a thermos flask), a compulsory task facing all visitors to
Salamanca is to search out the frog sculpted into the facade of the Universidad
Civil (Calle de los Libreros; adult/concession €4/2, Mon morning free; h9.30am-1.30pm &
4-6.30pm Mon-Sat, 10am-1.30pm Sun). Once pointed out, it’s easily enough seen, but the
uninitiated can spend considerable time searching. Why bother? Well, they say that
those who detect it without help can be assured of good luck and even marriage
within a year. Some hopeful students see a guaranteed examination’s victory in it. If
you believe all this, stop reading now. If you need help, look at the busts of Fernando
and Isabel. From there, turn your gaze to the largest column on the extreme right of
the front. Slightly above the level of the busts is a series of skulls, atop the leftmost
of which sits our little amphibious friend (or what’s left of his eroded self).

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