Study in Avila, Spain

Avila is a small town of less than 60,000 located in the autonomous community of Castile & Leon, central Spain. Only a short drive from Madrid, Avila is often seen as a day trip from the Spanish capital, and tourists marvel at its historic atmosphere and picturesque appearance. Medieval castles and fortified stone walls, set against a backdrop of high, rolling mountains, make Avila one of Spain’s most beautiful locations. Architectures buffs are particularly impressed by the city’s numerous historic churches and the superb preservation of its 11^th-century walls.

In ancient times, prior to the rise of the Roman Empire, the area around modern-day Avila was controlled by a large Celtic tribe known as the Vettones. Calling it Obila or "High Mountain," the Vettones fortified the town and used it as a stronghold against their enemies. Over the centuries, it was conquered by Romans, Visigoths, and North African Arabs. IT was after the 11^th century, when Christian kingdoms in Northern Spain conquered the area, that most of Avila’s historic buildings were constructed.

Today, Avila thrives on tourism and the restaurant business, and is renowned for its annual festivals. Avila breaks out into mass celebration at several times of the year, notably the month of October, which is almost entirely taken up with the Fiestas de Santa Teresa. These festivals celebrate the life and work of Saint Teresa of Avila, the city’s most famous native daughter.

Despite its relatively small size, Avila is home to numerous educational institutions, and its colleges and universities play a considerable role in the local culture and economy. By far the most influential is the Catholic University of Avila, which offers degrees in engineering, business, and law. The Catholic University also runs a summer program for foreign students who want to work on their Spanish while learning about Spanish history and culture. Summer courses on Catholicism, including field trips to sacred sites throughout the Spanish countryside, are also available.

In addition to the Catholic University of Avila, the city has a University of Mysticism and three institutes associated with the University of Salamanca. These institutes offer programs in nursing, education & tourism, and various vocational fields. The cater primarily to local students from Avila and a few from nearby Salamanca, although students from Madrid can also be found here.

To anyone who has seen Avila in person, the reasons for its popularity among students are obvious. Almost overwhelmingly scenic, the area around Avila affords countless opportunities for traveling and enjoying the countryside, while museums and cultural institutes offer entertainment and information within the city itself. These museums also provide another benefit to students: many of them have internship programs that enable students in Avila to valuable career work experience while they work toward their degrees.