The Walls of Ávila Spain
Ávila is an ancient city in the rolling hill country northwest of Madrid in the region of Castile and León. The Walls were built between the 11th and 14th centuries, to defend the city from invaders. These medieval fortifications are the most complete and best preserved in all of Spain. The walls are Romanesque style architecture and are considered to be the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is even possible to walk on top of the walls for about half of the distance around. The Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The enclosed area is a rectangle of 31 hectares (77 acres) with a perimeter of 2,516 meters (8,255 ft), including 88 semicircular towers and 9 gates. The walls have an average width of 3 meters (9.8 ft) and an average height of 12 meters (39 ft).
The Walls of Ávila Spain
Ávila is an ancient city in the rolling hill country northwest of Madrid in the region of Castile and León. The Walls were built between the 11th and 14th centuries, to defend the city from invaders. These medieval fortifications are the most complete and best preserved in all of Spain. The walls are Romanesque style architecture and are considered to be the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is even possible to walk on top of the walls for about half of the distance around. The Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The enclosed area is a rectangle of 31 hectares (77 acres) with a perimeter of 2,516 meters (8,255 ft), including 88 semicircular towers and 9 gates. The walls have an average width of 3 meters (9.8 ft) and an average height of 12 meters (39 ft).