Ávila ( Spanish: [ˈaβila] ) is a province of central-western Spain , in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León . It is bordered on the south by the provinces of Toledo and Cáceres , on the west by Salamanca , on the north by Valladolid , and on the east by Segovia and Madrid . Ávila has a population of 158,265 (2018) and is ranked 47th out of 50 of Spanish provinces in population. Its capital is Ávila .
7-611: The Alberche is a river in the provinces of Ávila , Madrid and Toledo , central Spain . It begins its course at 1,800 m in Fuente Alberche, San Martín de la Vega del Alberche municipal term, Ávila Province. It forms the natural division between the Sierra de Gredos and the Sierra de Guadarrama , in the Sistema Central . The Alberche flows roughly from NW to SE and bends sharply midway in its course to flow from NE to SW. It meets
14-614: A number of large stone statues of bulls called Verracos, with the largest number of surviving examples in Ávila. The area of the province was conquered by the Romans around 192 B.C. After the Roman Empire fell, the area became part of the Visigothic Kingdom, and it is from this period we have many of the earliest records of the towns of Ávila. The population of the territory comprising the current-day province of Ávila greatly decreased since
21-461: Is naturally divided into two sections, differing completely in soil and climate. The northern portion is generally level; the soil is of indifferent quality, strong and marly in a few places, but rocky in all the valleys of the Sierra de Ávila; and the climate alternates from severe cold in winter to extreme heat in summer. The population of this part is mainly agricultural. The southern division, however,
28-513: Is one mass of rugged granitic sierras, interspersed with sheltered and well-watered valleys, abounding with rich vegetation. The winter, especially in the elevated region of the Paramera and the wastelands of Ávila, is long and severe, but the climate is not unhealthy. The principal mountain chains are the Guadarrama, separating this province from Madrid; the Paramera and Sierra de Ávila , west of
35-798: The Sierra de Gredos are the Alberche , the Tiétar , and the Tormes . The first two belong to the Tagus basin , while the latter belongs to the Douro catchment area. Meanwhile, the Adaja , another Douro tributary whose source lies at the cut-off point of the Sierra de Ávila and La Serrota, carries little water in the Summer. The first recorded inhabitants of Ávila were the Celts , who left behind
42-510: The Tagus a few kilometres east of Talavera de la Reina . This river has the following dams along its course: Burguillo , Charco del Cura , San Juan , Picadas, and Cazalegas. Alberche Beach is a sandy beach stretch on the banks of the Alberche River, a favorite spot for vacationers from Madrid. 40°24′49″N 4°47′11″W / 40.41361°N 4.78639°W / 40.41361; -4.78639 Province of %C3%81vila Ávila
49-428: The Guadarrama; and the vast wall of the Sierra de Gredos along the southern frontier, where its outstanding peaks rise from around 6,000 to 8,000 feet (1,800 to 2,400 m). Pico Almanzor is the highest point. The ridges which ramify from the Paramera are covered with valuable forests of beeches, oaks and firs, presenting a striking contrast to the bare peaks of the Sierra de Gredos. The main rivers stemming from
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