Cathedral of Ávila

This church claims to be Spain's first Gothic structure, though there are several "protogothic" churches which combine Romanesque and Gothic styles. This building is unmistakeably Gothic. It dates from the second half of the twelfth century, and retains many of its early features, such as the impressive northern doorway from the early thirteenth century.

All in all, it is not the nicest cathedral. Its most redeeming quality is clearly the Girola, a series of chapels behind the main alter in the walls of the apse. The red and brown sandstone makes the construction very impressive.