Ávila Cathedral

Half church, half fortress — the apse is built into the city wall itself

Ávila Cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Spain and one of the most fortress-like church buildings in Europe. Its most striking architectural feature is the apse — the curved eastern end of the cathedral — which is built directly into the city wall. The round tower (the Cimorro) projects outward from the wall and is visible from outside the city, giving the eastern skyline its distinctive silhouette of towers and the church's rear end rising above the fortifications.

The interior combines the severity of the earliest Gothic style with later Renaissance additions. The main altarpiece is a large 16th-century polychrome work. The choir stalls are carved oak from the same period. The cathedral museum holds medieval textiles, silver, and a large 15th-century monstrance. Entry is paid; the combined ticket with the cloister and treasury is worth having. The building can be visited in an hour but deserves more time.

things to do sight church
A story
Ávila Cathedral is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Spain, begun around 1091. Its most unusual feature — the apse built into the eastern city wall, creating a tower called the Cimorro — means the cathedral served a dual function as both church and defensive element. The Cimorro is the most distinctive element of Ávila's famous skyline when seen from outside the walls.