Avila is the celebrated birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús (St. Theresa of Jesus) 1515 to 1582. Santa Teresa was born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, a noblewoman who became a nun at the Convento de la Concepción (Convent of the Conception) at the age of eighteen. Santa Teresa was revered for her writings, first published in 1588, and mystical visions. Some of the top attractions in Avila include the Cathedral - which dates back to the 12th century, St. Vincent's Basílica - a Romanesque Basílica, purported to be raised on the site where Vicente and his two sisters were slain in 303 AD by the Romans, the Palacio de los Deanes (The Deanes' Palace) - located on Plaza de Nalvillos, now housing the Museo Provincial (Provincial Museum) with regional archaeological finds and information on the city, and many other monuments of interest.
Renowned for its harsh winters, Avila is also famous for its medieval Las Murallas (town walls), the best-maintained example to be found in Europe.
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