Description of the attraction
The main symbol of Avila is its Fortress Wall, which surrounds the old part of the city and looks out at its new part from the dais. This most powerful monumental structure was erected by order of the King of Castile and Leon Alfonso VI in the period from 1090 to 1099 in order to ensure the defense and defense of the city. Moorish architects, local Jews, and Spanish peasants took part in the construction of the fortress walls, who extracted sand and lime for the walls.
The fortress wall of Avila stretches for 2516 meters, its height is 12 meters. The wall includes 88 towers, 2, 5 thousand battlements and 9 gates and is a rectangle in plan, oriented from west to east. In its construction were used granite stone of black and gray colors, brick, lime.
This magnificent structure is by far the best-preserved city wall in Europe and the second largest fortress wall in the world after the Great Wall of China.
The eastern part of the wall includes the apse of the Cathedral. The Alcazar Gate and the St. Vincent Gate are also located on the east side. This gate is the most fortified part of the wall, because it was through them that attempts were made to invade the city.
Over the course of its long history, the Avila Fortress Wall has been restored and fortified several times - the most significant transformations were carried out in the 14th century, as well as at the beginning and end of the 20th century.
The Avila Fortress Wall is recognized as a cultural heritage site and is under the protection of UNESCO.
