Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 8:33am

Spain is located in Southern Europe, with two small exclaves in North Africa. It is a developed country with the ninth-largest economy in the world.

flag Introduction to CENTRAL SPAIN

Date travelled: 1st September to 10tht September 2005
Tour Operator: SAGA

Madrid to Avila to Segovia

We arrived in Madrid on the 1st september 2005 after a short flight from the UK. The weather on arrival was beautiful and remained that way for the whole tour. At the airport we boarded a coach that was to take us to Avila in Central Spain.

" .... one of the finest examples
of a medieval walled city .... "

Walled city of AvilaAvila is the highest provincial capital in Spain at a height of 1131 metres above sea level and is one of the finest examples in Europe of a of a medieval walled city. The walls are mainly 11th century and stand 10 metres high and enclose an area measuring 900 x450 metres. The eastern apse of the cathedral is built into the city walls as a defence bastion.

CathedralAvila has several old churches and convents and was the birthplace of St Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun who became one of the greatest mystics of the Catholic church and was canonized in 1622. The convent of Santa Teresa was built in the 17th century on the plot where Santa Teresa de Jesus was born. Inside the city walls are many medieval mansions and the Romanesque and early Gothic cathedral. It was completed in the 16th century as the first cathedral in Spain with Gothic design.

Roman aqueductThe following day we took a coach to Segovia famous for its magnificent Alcázar or castle and superbly preserved Roman aqueduct. The old city is spectacularly situated atop a long, narrow promontory. It contains a wealth of monuments, including the cathedral, a famous ancient Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar, and various churches built in the Romanesque style including San Esteban, San Martin, and San Millan. The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Romans built the aqueduct out of large blocks of stone and did not use any mortar to hold them together and this one still stands relatively straight after 2000 years.

Fairytale castle of AlcázarThe Alcázar, or castle-palace, is perched at the tip of the promontory and towering over the countryside below. Its fairy-tale spires and facade influenced stongly Walt Disney's design of the castle in Sleeping Beauty. It was built in the 12th century. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs (and only part of the roofs), but they were restored, in the very same style they were built more than 300 years ago.

 

Back to top Back to top

Travel Advice for Spain

WEATHER

The ideal months to visit Spain are May, June and September (plus April and October in the south)

PASSPORT

Passport valid for at least three months including 90 days beyond the planned stay required

VISA

Visa not required by EU nationals

MONEY

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants. Travellers cheques can be cashed at banks and exchange offices and usually attract a slightly higher exchange rate than cash
Currency is the Euro (€)

ELECTRICITY

220V 50 Hz

TIME ZONE

Time difference is + 1 hours GMT

FLIGHT

Flight time approx. 3½ hours

WATER

Tap water is safe to drink

DISEASE

No compulsory vaccinations required

LINKS

Embassy - Tel: +44 207 467 2330 or link to Spanish Embassy

** Information on the travel pages was correct at the time of publishing. Passport & Visa information applies to UK citizens.