In this route we will follow the steps of Saint Theresa of Ávila, or she onf the child Jesus, one of the most famous saints in Spanish history, whose letter and foundations changed Catholicism in the XVIth century and still today continue her legacy. Even though the terrain is notquite plain, it is perfectly signed all along the way, so it makes it simple to follow.
We start our cycling route in Avila, birthplace of a lovely Saint Theresa which read a lot of cavalry novels and romances about the life of the saints, due to her delicate health (she even suffered a paroxism on her 20's which left her unable to walk for two years). However, that didn't avoided that a very young Theresa tried to escape to 'unfaithful lands' along with her brother, in order to be martyr by the Muslims and sacrifice herself for Christianty. Thankfully, her uncle brought her home soon after the kids have left the walls of the city.
But this was not the only time Theresa showed her rebel side, when she was around 19 she expressed her desire to become a nun, which her father said she wouldn't 'as long as he was alive' so she left his home and got directly into the convent of the Encarnacion (Incarnation) in the same Avila.
After visiting the city and its beautiful Middle Ages walls and the incredibly well-preserved cathedral of the XIIth century. We start our route up to Alba de Torres, which is perfectly signaled with red arrows on small monolites, so it is impossible to get lost.
Halfway between Avila and Alba de Torres, we wil find the convent of Duruelo, which a convent Saint Theresa ordered to build in 1568, at the beginning, it was nothing more than a ruined house the saint received as a gift. But with the help of Saint John of the Cross, they made a small convent to their growing religious order, the Barefoot Carmelites.
Soon after this small visit, we will reach Alba de Torres, place of death and vurial of Saint Theresa, and where in 1585 her body was exhumated to be found uncorrupted and which rests since 1670 in a silver box. She wouldn't become Saint, and Doctor of the Church (one of the biggest recognitions to those who collaborated to the Christian doctrine) until 1970.
Once we have finished the Theresian route and have our passport signed (I forgot to mention, but it is a legal peregrination where you are handled a kind of diploma afterwards) we will head to Salamanca, where we can find the very first university in Spain, which still hosts thousand of students every year.
For that part of the route we will follow the greenway, which is quite plain and let us enjoy the beautiful Castillian landscapes. It is quite a good route for the nature lovers, and mreover if we are tired of all the religious stuff.
Then, we will reach to Salamanca, the first thing I recommed is to go straight to the university door, where it is common to see many people looking around for a tiny frog (why? I don't know, but it's great fun and so you can admire the whole sculpturing work). It is also very typical to go to the cathedral to find not one but two curious things: an astronaut and a monkey eating an ice-cream (my wife had to explain me that it was to reward the people who worked in the restoration of the cathedral and in order to show the life in the XXth century to future generations...but a monkey?)
Anyway, the route was great and I think is a good opportunity to know both the most religious part of Spain and the incredible rural Cartillian landscapes, which never cease to amaze me
The 'Gastronomical Triad' of the town is made up of Judías del Barco (large haricot beans from the village of El Barco de Ávila, also known locally as 'pipos'), Chuletón de Ávila (veal chop from 500 g to 1 kg in weight, depending on your appetite) and Yemas de Santa Teresa (sweet cakes made from egg yolks and sugar). With such a menu, visitors will be satisfied, contented and ready to continue their discovery of the wonderful treasures the town has to offer.
This type of menu is a true example of Ávila gastronomy, based on agricultural and cattle-farming products from a province that varies greatly in both geography and climate. Pulses and legumes have earned their fame thanks to the haricot bean from El Barco and the carilla (a small haricot bean with a black dot) from the banks of the River Tormes and the chickpea from La Moraña in the north of the province. Meat is also popular: kid from Candeleda, lamb from the Amblés Valley and roast suckling pig from the north of the province.
The way the food is cooked is very simple and importance is given to the quality of the product itself to ensure that it provides original flavours without the need for enhancements.
It is important to accompany the food with local wines, which also follow the maxim of simplicity and taste. They are full-bodied and big on the palate and come from the area around the River Alberche. Sweet and fruity, they can be enjoyed as sangria during Holy Week in Ávila. And there are also liqueurs of different tastes and bouquets, made from orujo, a liquor made from what is left of the grapes after they have been pressed to make wine.
The healthiest desert is his fruit and should be enjoyed in season: peaches from Burgohondo, Reineta apples from El Barco de Ávila, cherries from the Tiétar Valley and figs from Poyales are just a few examples. And for sweet-toothed visitors, besides the famous yemas, there are many other traditional sweets, such as mantecados, perrunillas, amarguillos, jesuitas, empiñonados and torrijas, etc. And the town also has many cake shops.
Avila is easily reached from Madrid via the RENFA, the Spanish national railway, with operates trains to Avila daily; the two-hour journey includes some wonderful views in its own right.
By car, you need to take the N-V1 main road and follow it to Villacastin, from where you bear southwest and join the M-505 via El Escorial. The road becomes the C-505 and then branches off onto the N-VI just before you reach Las Rozas.
The nearest airport to Avila is Madrid Bajaras International Airport (MAD), a busy modern facility with daily international flights. With three terminals serving roughly 30-million passengers each year, Madrid Bajaras is one of the most important airports in the country. It is also an excellent place to hire a car, with discounts of up to 65 per cent being offered.
