[lodwick]

One of the finest remnants of Europe's medieval era, the walled town of Avila was sacred to an ancient Celtiberian culture long before the arrival of the Romans or Christians. The city was captured by the Arab Moors in 714 AD, recaptured by the Christians in 1088, and had its protective walls built in the 12th century. Extending for 2,500 meters (8202 ft.) and encircling the old town, the massive walls are punctuated by ninety, heavily fortified stone towers. Avila is much visited by tourists today, yet in the late medieval ages its visitors were pilgrims coming to the church in the center of the walled city. The current church, begun in 1091 and completed in the 13th century, is where the mystic St. Teresa (1515-1582) had frequent visions and ecstatic experiences. Nearby the church stands the house where St. Teresa lived.

[restornu]

Thank you!

St.Teresa of Avila has been memorialized all over the world now I know where the root of it existance comes form!

[grannie9]

Wonderful pic Loddy.. and look at that sky. Wow! Thanks for the tour.

[restornu]

Perched high atop spires of conglomerated Calcerous and sandstone rock, the monasteries of Meteora are one of the world's most spectacular sacred sites. Paleolithic remains indicate settlements around the stones from between 100,000 to 40,000 BC, and hermits and ascetics have lived in the area since long before the Christian era. The arrival of Christianity began in the 8th century, organized monastic communities had developed by the 12th century, and by the mid 1500's twenty-four Greek Orthodox monasteries had been constructed upon the spires of stone.

[Woliff]

Well Resty, I did not find a castle today, although we almost had lunch in an Andrade watchtower.

But guess what...

I found a gold mine!!!

Click here to find out where I went today