Page 287 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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magnificent Plaza Mayor was
built by Felipe V in the 18th
century to thank the city for its
support during the War of the
Spanish Succession. Among the
arcaded buildings lining the
square are the Baroque town
hall and the Royal Pavilion, from
where the royal family used to
watch events in the square.
Other fine monuments located
in the heart of the city include the
16th-century Iglesia-Convento
de San Esteban, with its lovely
ornamented facade, and the
Section of Avila’s 12th-century city walls Convento de las Dueñas,
5 Avila Alfonso IX of León in 1218. which preserves Moorish
and Renaissance features.
Avila. * 59,200. £ @ n Avenida The 16th-century facade of the The Museo Art Nouveau y
de Madrid 39 (920-35 40 00). main building on the Patio de Art Déco holds an important
las Escuelas is a splendid collection of 19th- and
The perfectly preserved medieval example of the Plateresque 20th-century paintings, jewelry,
walls that encircle this historic style. This form of early Spanish ceramics, and stained glass.
city were built in the 12th Renaissance architecture is so On the city outskirts, the
century by Christian forces as a called because of its fine detail, 1st-century AD Roman bridge,
defense against the Moors. Of which resembles ornate the Puente Romano, offers a
the nine gateways in the walls, silverwork – platero in Spanish good view over the entire city.
the most impressive is the Puerta means silversmith.
de San Vicente. Avila’s cathedral, The 16th-century, mainly P Universidad
whose unusual exterior is carved Gothic new cathedral and Calle Libreros. Tel 923-29 44 00.
with beasts and scaly wild men, the 12th- to 13th-century Open daily. Closed Dec 25.
also forms part of the city walls. Romanesque old cathedral & (except Mon am).
Avila is the birthplace of St. stand side by side. A highlight E Museo Art Nouveau y Art Déco
Teresa (1515–82), one of the of the old cathedral is the richly Calle Gibraltar 14. Tel 923-12 14 25.
Catholic Church’s greatest mystics colored altarpiece (1445) by Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1 & 6,
and reformers. The Convento de Nicolás Florentino. The Dec 25. & (free Thu am). 7 =
Santa Teresa occupies the site
of the home of this saint, who
also lived for many years in the
Mon asterio de la Encarnación.
Among the city’s finest
churches are the 12th-century
Iglesia de San Vicente and
the Romanesque-Gothic
Iglesia de San Pedro.
Beyond the town center,
the beautiful Real Monasterio
de Santo Tomás contains the
tomb of Tomás de Torquemada
(1420–98), the notorious head
of the Spanish Inquisition.

6 Salamanca
Salamanca. * 155,000. k 15 km
(9 miles) E. £ @ n Plaza Mayor 32
(923-21 83 42). ∑ salamanca.es
Home to one of the oldest
universities in Europe, Salamanca
is also Spain’s best showcase of
Renaissance and Plateresque
architecture. The city’s famous
university was founded by View of Salamanca’s twin cathedrals, from the Puente Romano

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