The best traffic-free bike rides around La Aldehuela

The Old Bridge of El Barco de Ávila, also known as the Medieval Bridge, is one of the most representative symbols of this town in Ávila. It crosses the Tormes River and connects the historic center with the old communication route to Castile and León. Although its current structure is medieval (12th–13th centuries), it is believed to have been built on Roman foundations.

The Old Bridge of El Barco de Ávila, also known as the Medieval Bridge, is one of the most representative symbols of this town in Ávila. It crosses the Tormes River and connects the historic center with the old communication route to Castile and León. Although its current structure is medieval (12th–13th centuries), it is believed to have been built on Roman foundations.

Valdecorneja Castle, located in El Barco de Ávila, is a medieval gem that dominates the Tormes River valley from a strategic, elevated position. It is one of the most emblematic monuments in the province of Ávila and a must-see for history and architecture lovers.

Visiting El Barco de Ávila is an excellent option for a cultural and natural getaway at any time of year. This medieval town, located in the Alto Tormes region and at the gateway to the Sierra de Gredos, combines history, architecture, landscapes, and gastronomy in a charming way.

Built on a Vettonian fort that was destroyed by the Romans, it was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th century. After being conquered from the Arabs, King Alfonso VI donated the Lordship of Valdecorneja to his daughter and son-in-law, Ramon de Borgoña, for repopulation. At the beginning of the 14th century, Henry II of Trastamara donated these lands to the House of Alba in the person of Don García Álvarez de Toledo. The House of Alba was responsible for building the castle. Grand Duke Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo had his second residence here. During the Peninsular War, it suffered significant deterioration, not only due to the war itself but also because its stones were used to build private homes. The old interior arcade (which apparently formed a double gallery on the inside of the tower) was dismantled and rebuilt to provide arcades for the town hall building, located in the Plaza Mayor. Between 1851 and 1904, the interior of the castle grounds was used as a municipal cemetery, which further deteriorated its condition. Today, the exterior is in perfect condition after restorations carried out in 1985 and 2004, preserving its original perimeter. The pavement and part of the keep were repaired. Access to the monument is free, and visitors can see the well located in the center of the courtyard, a vaulted cistern excavated in the subsoil rock, and the ancient windows and oriel windows with double pointed arches. The courtyard is used for certain cultural events held in this town.

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption was built in the 14th century on the site of the old fortress and rebuilt in the 16th century. Of considerable size, its polygonal sanctuary and transept stand out, towering above the rest of the church and displaying magnificent ashlar masonry and stepped prismatic buttresses. The apse and the central section of the transept are covered with star-shaped ribbed vaults. They are the work of Lucas Giraldo and Juan Gutiérrez, two of the finest architects of the 16th century. The body of the church, with three naves formed by wide semicircular arches rising from octagonal pillars, resembles a large hall. It is entered through two doorways with pointed and splayed arches on pilasters, sheltered by simple alfices. The very simple, rectangular tower features ashlar masonry in the lower section, granite ashlar in the upper section, and balls in the cornice. Inside, the main altarpiece, dating from the early 18th century, is Churrigueresque in the main section and Rococo in the shell to match the shape of the apse vault, the sacristy altarpiece, and other altarpieces distributed throughout the naves of the church.

At this point on the road, the combination of vegetation, tranquility due to the lack of traffic and the views captivate us with the charm of the Sierra de Gredos.

El Barco de Ávila is a town located in the northern foothills of the Sierra de Gredos, in the valley of the Tormes River. It has various heritage sites such as: the Castle, its walls and the Romanesque bridge, as well as its hermitages, the clock house and the prison building. Worthy of a tourist visit before or after an adventure.