Private Tour Ávila El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen

Important places on the Private Private Tour Ávila El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen

The Walls of Ávila:
The imposing medieval walls of Ávila , built between the 11th and 12th centuries, completely encircle the historic center and feature 88 towers and 9 gates. This fortification is one of the best-preserved walled complexes in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your visit, you can walk along selected sections of the wall, enjoying panoramic views of the city and its surroundings, while discovering Ávila’s connection to Saint Teresa and the history of its defensive architecture.

Basilica of San Vicente (Ávila)

This Romanesque church began construction at the end of the 11th century and was completed in the 14th century. It is considered the most important Romanesque church in Ávila and one of the jewels of this style in Spain. It was built on the site where, according to tradition, the siblings Vincent, Sabina, and Cristeta were martyred during the Diocletian persecution in the 4th century. Inside, the Cenotaph of the Holy Martyrs stands out as one of the most outstanding medieval funerary sculptures on the Iberian Peninsula.

Teresian Route (Ávila)

The city of Ávila is intimately linked to Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) , mystic, writer, and reformer of the Carmelite Order. The Teresian Route allows visitors to explore the places where she was born, lived, and wrote fundamental works such as the Book of Her Life . Key sites include the Birthplace of Saint Teresa , now a convent, and the Convent of Saint Joseph , the first foundation of the Carmelite Reform in 1562. This route is not only spiritual but also historical, revealing the religious and social atmosphere of the Spanish Golden Age.

Museum of Architecture – House of the Deans (Ávila)

The museum opened in 1911 and is one of the oldest in Castile and León. Since 1987, it has been managed by the Regional Government of Castile and León and is located in the historic Casa de los Deanes , a 16th-century Renaissance palace. Its collection is primarily dedicated to the architecture and ethnography of the province of Ávila, with pieces ranging from prehistory to contemporary art. A curious detail: its Renaissance courtyards contain remnants of Roman columns reused in the building’s construction.

Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Commissioned by Philip II in 1563 and completed in 1584, El Escorial was designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, becoming the finest example of the Herrerian style . The complex includes a royal palace, royal pantheon, basilica, library, college, and monastery. Its library still houses over 40,000 volumes , many of them unique Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin manuscripts. El Escorial was a symbol of the Spanish monarchy and is considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World.

Valley of the Fallen

Its full name is the Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen . It was built between 1940 and 1958 by order of Francisco Franco, in memory of those who died during the Spanish Civil War. The monumental complex includes a basilica carved into the rock and a monumental cross 150 meters high , visible from over 40 km away. In 2019, Franco’s remains were exhumed and moved out of the monument, making international news. Today it is considered a place of both remembrance and historical controversy.