General Information

Where is Ávila and what is it like?

Avila is situated in the centre of Spain, in the historic region of Castile and Leon, just one hour from Madrid.

Half of Spain’s historical and artistic monuments are to be found in our surrounding region. Here "castellano" (= "Spanish") is spoken.

What is Ávila like? - A Journey through its History and Art

Avila is a small Spanish city (population: 63,000) but it is rich in history and monuments earning it the title “World Heritage City” given by UNESCO, ensuring that a little of Avila belongs to each one of us. The Noble Prize holder C.J. Cela said that “Avila best reflects the soul of Spain”.

To achieve your objectives choosing the right city to study is just as important as choosing the ideal school. You will opt for Ávila if you wish to invest in a great improvement in your Spanish.

The city´s atmosphere will help you study in a very efficient way, because you will not bump into anyone from your university or neighbourhood, as happens in better-known cities which have more Spanish schools.

Who is Ávila ideal for if you want to do a Spanish course?

For minors (safety and entertainment)

For university students (if they wish to meet Spanish people of their age and not foreign students, if they are looking for an authentic Spanish “nightlife”)

For business people and VIPs wishing to study in an effective manner in a relaxed atmosphere and without being disturbed

For pensioners who are looking for somewhere quiet and with a rich culture

If you wish to learn correct Spanish = ("castellano"), and would like to avoid unnecessary confusions between this and other languages and dialects spoken in Spain

If this is your first visit to Spain. Avila is the PERFECT CITY for a first contact with Spain and its people

If you wish to study to the exclusion of distractions

If you want a happy balance between concentrated study and having fun by immersing yourself in the authentic Spanish atmosphere

Even the vice-rector of Salamanca University says that “Avila is the ideal city if you want to attend a Spanish course, mainly due to its particular historical interest and its rich cultural programmes.” (Diario de Avila, 17 June 2005)

Avila is the best preserved medieval city in Spain, the most impressive walled city in Europe and its illuminated fortress make Avila one of the most spectacular sights in the world.

Authors who have written about Ávila

Ávila appears in numerous movies, for example in “The Gun” with Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and Sofia Loren, in “Alba de América”, in “Don Juan”, etc. Hundreds of both national and international writers have written about Avila with the following being just one example:

"Ávila is an improbable city. Only divine passion parallels the vehemence that was able to erect such a city. Encircled by a fortress wall, unique in Europe for its intact greatness. Its eighty eight towers overwhelm with sorrow the Berroquian rock, but to look at it with the spirit, Avila is a winged city. It doesn’t take much effort to imagine it suspended in the air by the slender fingers of the Gothic Angels and their musical motion. (Enrique R. Larreta. “La Gloria de Don Ramiro”).

Viva Ávila! – Eat, Drink and Dance

A tranquil night in Ávila

Ávila, a monumental, peaceful and welcoming city by day also has a varied and versatile nightlife, ensuring a city that perfectly combines tranquillity with entertainment – and parties continue until the early hours of the morning.

If you are one of those who prefer a relaxing stroll after dinner we recommend starting with the Paseo del Rastro, taking a short route from the square “Mercado Chico” and ending up at the cathedral in front of which you will find the cafe “Palacio de los Velada”, a covered patio, the ambience set by gentle music and careful service, an ideal place to sit with friends and savour a coffee or a glass of something in an environment suitable for conversation and social get-togethers. And you can be assured that you are following good company – Carlos V was also here.

Very close to there, in the street El Tostado, you can find the cafe “La Taberna”, a small airconditioned space in the basement of the palace where the music is somewhat livelier while maintaining an environment that invites dialogue and friendly chat.

Later, at about mid-night, if you feel like further enjoying Avila, you should look in the street of San Segundo for “Cafe del Adarve”. In its rustic wood and stone setting exhibitions by new painters and sculptors are held, Anglo-American music from the seventies and eighties is played while jazz concerts by well-known international groups fill the bar every Thursday of the year.

AND A GOOD RESTAURANT?

If you feel like eating out, Ávila offers a great number of possibilities from the most economic to the most sophisticated, always with excellent quality and typical dishes of Castile that allow you to appreciate the abilities and culinary tastes of our city and region.

There are a lot of options but if we were to recommend any of them it would be the lovely “Alcaravea” Restaurant in the Cathedral square where to the locals it is a privilege to taste the potato tortilla with peppers, the delicious natural salads and the vinegered fish served with mouth-watering special sauces.

In “Doña Guiomar”, situated in Tomas Luis de Victoria street, there are excellent honey puff pastries stuffed with meat or fish, chops of Avila and the leek and cheese pie.

If you prefer something a little more sophisticated, visit the best restaurant in Avila, “El Almacén”, and try first class Spanish cuisine: marvellous dishes with impeccable service – the exquisite grilled vegetables, the delicious sirloin steak with fresh peppers and the roasted suckling pig are some excellent examples.

If, on the other hand, you’d like to try countryside food, strong, well-seasoned and authentically ours, direct yourself towards the traditional and famous “Mesón el Rastro” in the gate of the wall with the same name and tackle a cocido (local stew), beans with chorizo (tasty, rich sausage) or patatas revolconas (a local specialty of tasty mashed potatoes with paprika) with pork crackling.

If you are in search of seafood, “El Cocedero” next to the bull ring, is the best place.

Finally, “El Labrador” by the bridge, is the cheapest, with the longest family tradition with truly homemade food and also the best tripe. Javi, the waiter, is rough and cordial at the same time – he is an authentic Castillian.

Long Live Ávila`s Nightlife! – “la Marcha”

WHERE TO MEET PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE 18 TO 40 YEARS OLD

A night on the move or “movida”, that is to say a night of fiestas (parties) until the early hours, is also a great way to be introduced to the culture, habits and customs of a fixed social group. In more than 300 bars, discos and clubs - we can only mention a few, each one of you will be able to find your own style and preference. Look out: Every day new ones open their doors and others change their names.

We start our night of fiesta in “Cafe del Adarve” on San Segundo street, listening to live music and feeling the pulse of the city.

The Irish Pub in Eduardo Marquina is very popular with its “Spanglish” atmosphere.

Later we move on to “El Delicatessen” in Avenida Portugal, an ideal place to meet Spanish people, integrate with groups and use the resources that you have acquired in class.

Their sessions of "story telling" always attract many spectators.

Movement in the night is essential. The Spanish do not stay too long in one place and for this reason we now move on to the disco-pub “Marco Gavanna” in Avenida de Madrid. This bar, decorated with brilliant crystals, mirrors and featuring salsa and fusion music, will ensure that you won’t be able to resist dancing.

The next destination is “Básico” where pop, rock, and funky rhythms are played in a young, activity packed environment. We continue the night with just a small hop to “Quondam” with its medieval style which is filled till the early hours of the morning.

If you have followed this Spanish ritual of nightlife, by all indications, it should now be about five or six in the morning. The most nocturnal creatures meet in “Sabor” of Avenida Portugal while the “Copa” opens from 5 at night and closes at 10 in the morning providing another good option.

From here it is time to leave, either to sleep or to have as a breakfast a typical hot chocolate and “churros” (delicious long donuts), perfect at this time of the morning in, for example, “Las Cinco Villas” in Capitán Méndez Vigo street or Rollo square. And now, finally, to sleep!

WHERE TO GO IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS

If you are younger than eighteen, you are still offered many options, adapted to your age, for a good night out in Ávila. Meeting people, practising your Spanish and adapting to the customs of the young Spanish people is not difficult in Ávila. With neither dangers nor bad atmosphere, Avila is the ideal city to spend some hours dancing and “marcha” (going out, hitting the town).

You could head towards, until about ten at night, Vallespin, the street next to our school that comes off the Plaza del Mercado Chico in the centre of the historical part of the city. Here you will find a concentration of young people in the twenty or more locations that pack this street. Of these we recommend, so that you can try the distinct types of music and ambience, “Arbore” which is a disco-bar that imitates the garden of a castle with neon, multi-coloured lights and pop music. You could then continue on to “Millenium” where they spin music of many different styles and where dancing is converted into an obligation. Pay a visit also to “Abacán”, a location where you are also destined to dance with techno beats and fusion rhythms.

At about twelve thirty people head towards Avenida Portugal where “Ozone” invites all the young people of your age. This bar, on two floors, allows you to choose between chatting in the top floor or dancing on the level below which is almost a dance club. www.ozonebar.com.

To avoid unnecessary problems please, respect the homecoming hour set by your parents and host family.