We bus to Avila, distinguished by a vast castle wall dating to Roman times. It is 2500 metres long.
We visit a Basilica, probably built on the site where the Romans executed the Christians. It has Roman and Christian architecture. The Moors were only artisans and workers here, it was never their fort.
There are symbols of eagles here from the 1400s here, no longer popular, more of a thing in Germany and the US. The lions are significant.
The tour guide says that Castles in Spain are available to purchase starting at a million Euros.
The tour guide says this is the first Gothic Cathedral. The last was in Toledo. This building was never “finished “ you can see a mix of materials.
The archway represents domsday (doomsday) with Jesus at the centre.
There were body cults here as well. They claim to have part of Mary’s finger here as well.
The loyalist gate – you needed access to visit the wall ledge.
I ponder why Crusaders and Catholics would expand such vast resources on such a large castle after seeing the smaller defensive Moorish castles in Portugal. There must be a granary, counting house, possibly skilled workers.
For lunch we wander into the castle through terraces and shops. There must have been all the support staff, as well as the usual function of the keep for farmers and peasants to retreat in times of raid.
I recall the maxim, “it is from their enemies, not their friends, that people learn the secret of building castle walls”. I remember reading about the evolution of English castles from “square corners “ to “round corners”. This seems to have happened around the 13thC AD – to provide strength against tunnelling invaders.
Indeed in Portugal we saw the Moorish castles had square corners, giving good, weak locations to aim a catapult or trebuchet at.
We find a humble cafe and order a potato and tomato roll.
