Catedral de Ávila

This was the most surprising place for me, for I didn't expect anything different from the usual sights in Spanish cathedrals. I was very much fascinated by the place as it is marvellous and splendid. It was designed as a temple and fortress, its apse being one of the cubes of the city wall . The building, a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque styles , dates back to the 12th century and is considered the first Gothic cathedral in Spain. It has a Latin cross plan consisting of three naves, a transept and a semicircular chancel with a double ambulatory . This variety of architecture gives rise to a sober and fortified exterior that gives way to Gothic lightness with Renaissance touches on the inside.

Imposing cathedral in centre of town. Built of Gothic and Roman styles - one of first 2 Gothic cathedrals in Spain . High ceiling church. Easy level access, not crowded. Entry fees. Not sure when construction began exactly - probably 12th century.

The Cathedral of Avila is a monumental building that was part fortress and part religious centre of the city. This had some incredible stonework carvings and also some beautiful painted altars. The cathedral was fabulously bright with lots of windows and a beautifully high vaulted roof. There were lots of saints and, I assume, bishops tombs, as well as a few knights and we were also able to visit the cloisters. These had been restored in the 1970's and it looked like this was ongoing with a couple of areas blocked off and netting/sheeting covering some parts. One of the attractions included in the €10 entrance fee was the VR experience. This was a fabulous addition and showed some areas from a different perspective as well as giving a good history of the cathedral. Sadly, of the 10 or so VR stations, only 1 was actually working so we had to take it in turns.

I was not happy at first to pay 10 euros for the entrance as it is as expensive as Salamanca's cathedral and smaller but it is impressive and the audioguide for kids was great! They had plenty of fun. They also have a VR experience at the end, which is OK.

This is a must visit Cathedral in Spain located near Madrid in the Town of Avila. The architecture is pure Roman presentation and the pictures bring to life its History. I strongly recommend visiting this place with your Family and Friends.

Nice Cathedral of Avila, the main tourist spot and centre of attraction. The entrance walls are amazing and huge with nice shape and style. There are many lion sculptures right outside, our guide referred to them as Kardashian Lions 🤣, recommended! Do visit

Steep price for entry, but spectacular church! Audio guides are included (even though they have an interestingly accented Italian), and there’s also a VR experience in the cloister. Some areas are closed for restoration currently.

I loved this place. It seems to have a slightly lower profile than some if the other citys in the area like Salamanca and Segovia but it is a gem. The cathedral built into the city walls is a classic piece of gothic architecture, I loved it

Gothic cathedral or Fortress? You wouldn't know. Construction began as early as the 12th century, blending Romanesque and French-influenced Gothic by architect Fruchel. Truly an architectural oddity but pretty badass.

How do you even rate a church? This was one of my first stops on my day trip to Ávila and I was impressed. I've been to the Sagrada Familia (5 stars) and cathedrals around the world, including the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito where you could walk a catwalk high above the sanctuary to get to stunning views on the roof (also 5 stars). The Catedral de Ávila doesn't have the gimmicky catwalk or the street cred of a world renowned church, but it does have friendly staff, an helpful audio tour, soaring ceilings, beautiful stained glass, and the amazing Altar of Kings, carved from limestone, which depicts scenes from Jesus's life--some of which I found very moving. Make sure to go through all of the open doors as they lead to various displays and a quaint chapel. I enjoyed my visit and found the artwork and historical exhibits fascinating.

Catedral de Avila is fairly impressive. But the big 3 cathedrals are in Segovia, Toledo, and Seville. As many people already know, the cathedral in Toledo is the most impressive although I also like the on in Avila. The cathedral in Avila is within the walls of the Avila. In front, there are many lion statues that honor the nearby Leon area. This cathedral, not being one of the bigger ones, is not as often visited. Structure wise, this is not as well kept as the one in Toledo. The cathedrals are all built with different materials that are available nearby and therefore have different weaknesses. The one in Avila and Segovia are built with sandstone, which are more prone to long-term wind and rain damage. If you do come visit Avila, I highly recommend stopping by both the walls and the cathedral before moving on to Segovia. By the way, do you know the differences among cathedral, basilica, and church? A cathedral can only be built when there is a bishop on the seat; a cathedral without a bishop but has historical significance (St. Peter's Basilica for example) would be a basilica. Anything else is a church. Enjoy this fun fact!

This is a really great cathedral full of dark, gothic-y mystery...my favorite kind. They do, however, charge an entrance fee and then forbid you from taking photos, which totally rubs me the WRONG WAY. If you're going to treat your cathedral more as a tourist spectacle than as a house of worship, don't tell people they can't take pictures of it. That is all. Oh, and I'm posting here the photos I took before I got busted.

This is an OK place to visit but make sure you use washroom somewhere else before you get in, it's about an hour to go through the place. If you ask to use their washroom, the staff would tell you they do not have a washroom. A cathedral without a washroom, quite amazing, isn't it?