The Wall (not Pink Floyd's)

 90 minutes and all uphill. I feel like the guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark was waiting at the end to tell me "you chose poorly."  I guess either way I was going to go uphill in one direction.  In that way, I "chose wisely". I had the loveliest views and could go at my own pace. 

"The Walls of Ávila, completed between the 11th and 14th centuries, are the defensive walls of Ávila, Spain, and its principal historic feature. Forming a complete circuit around the old town, they are one of the country's most complete and best-preserved medieval fortifications and among the most notable examples in Europe. The Old Town of Ávila, including the walls and its extramural churches, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.  

The work was started in 1090 but most of the defensive wall appears to have been rebuilt in the 12th century. The enclosed area is an irregular rectangle of 31 hectares (77 acres) with a perimeter of some 2,516 metres (8,255 ft), including 88 semicircular towers. The walls have an average width of 3 metres (9.8 ft) and an average height of 12 metres (39 ft). The nine gates were completed over several different periods. The Puerta de San Vicente (Gate of St Vincent) and the Puerta del Alcazar (Gate of the Fortress) are flanked by twin towers, 20 metres (66 ft) high, linked by a semicircular arch. The apse of the cathedral also forms one of the towers.

It is possible to walk upon the walls for roughly half the circumference. Whilst some of the walls will never be navigable in this way because of their integration into other structures, there is a large stretch of the walls that has yet to be made safe for pedestrians.

The site was registered as a National Monument in 1884. In 1985, the old city of Ávila and its extramural churches were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO." (wikipedia)

the Wall itself was always on my left hand side - so some of the photos are facing forward and some are looking back - different views - you can always orient yourself with wall on the left (forward) wall on the right (lookig back) 

my hotel which abuts the wall.

As always in the 21st century - exit through the gift shop - model of the wall and the building which encloses the gate known as the Flour Gate it abuts the Cathedral knave and also the House of the Butchers.

The classic souvenir - the conventos across Spain all specialize in sweets they sell to locals and tourists alike. In Ávila the sweets are named for its most honored Saint - Teresa of Ávila (more on her to follow)

I bought two boxes but will wait for Phil'sarrival in Spain to sample them.