March 7: Avila & Salamanca

We walked from our campsite to Avila Castle.  As we walked along the city wall, it was hard not to compare it to the one we explored in Dubrovnik.  Although I’d give the slight edge to Dubrovnik, Avila Castle was quite spectacular and provided many opportunities for high quality pictures. The Walls of Ávila, completed between the 11th and 14th centuries, are thought to be some of the most well preserved ones in Spain. You can see the pride that they take in maintaining this special place – it is immaculate.

Next, it was off to another UNESCO World Heritage site — Salamanca, known as the “Golden city.” Much like the city of Noto that we visited in Sicily, the buildings all had a majestic golden tone due to the sandstone used in their construction. We immediately recognized that we were in a university environment. The energy from these young scholars provided a feeling of youthful optimism to this beautiful old city.  According to Wikipedia, “It is one of the most important university cities. The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest western university.”  Besides the university, Salamanca also boasts an amazing cathedral and one of the most beautiful plazas in Spain.