A palace

Santo Tomás Monastery, ran by Dominican Monks, was the Royal Summer Residence for the Catholic Monarchs. They even, buried their beloved son here. Great important events happened inside its walls.
Cristopher Columbus asking for money for his journeys to the New World.
Torquemada and his Inquisition. Philosophical battles between different religious orders.

The royal court walking in these elegant galleries. The Rennaissance to the service of Monarchy and church.

Nowadays this jewel of harmony hosts lodgings for university students and travellers who are looking for a comfortable quiet place during their stay in Ávila.
Monks still run it, and the beautiful decoration of the prince's tomb reminds us of its past monarchic splendor. But young people with their Mp3s and mobiles walk its corridors and yards.

Another example

I can't help showing this. Another example of how our ancestors recycled, a bit funny. Can you say what it was and what it was turned into?
You'll see it in the Village Museum.

Nothing new

We may think we are inventing new concepts, but we are terribly wrong. Re-using, re-cyling are not modern terms. They were used in ancient times.
Look at this stone in The Walls. It comes from the ancient Roman Walls. A different position, a different use. Anyway, there, for us to see.
What does it look like? where could it be? We can only speculate.

Nearer

One of the most attractive tours , with good weather, is the tour around The Walls on The Walls. Following the corridors our ancestors may have walked to defend the town.
Things get a different perspective and help you contact views that are almost impossible for our human sight.


The work of the ancient craftmen, almost embroidery, the different materials, the architecture secrets.

Our animal neighbours. Everything nearer, you could even dream of touching them.
Don't miss the opportunity of getting closer to our heritage. Climbing the stairs is worthy!

Resources

Human pressure over nature may be the end of a civilization. Our towns are getting larger and larger, today's villages are living a low moment. Their inhabitants leave for the towns looking for a more comfortable life, which is understandable, but it means a completely different lifestyle.
We are over-using natural resources, water for example. And the revolution that could make the big difference is far away.
Severe droughts and abuse empty our water reservoirs. El Burguillo in the South of Ávila is getting smaller and smaller. However, cars go on crossing the bridge.
How long will it last?

Goodbye, hello!

Bucharest will be waiting for you all in May. Since you will see, discover and learn everything first hand, it seems pointless describing it here.
Welcome and goodbye.

Can you feel it?

Can you feel the spring approaching?
After a "serious", gray and snowy winter, unlike the last one, we are out of patience. Every echo, every warm breeze, every sun-ray is a promise that nature will soon come back to life. And so shall we. Frost will soon be in the past. Birds will be back from South telling us how they had missed us. And our students will be restless and ...in love.
Let's open our hearts and our windows as wide as we can!
Enjoy this ever-new spring!