Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila – Explore the Birthplace of Santa Teresa
The Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila is a magnificent church built where Saint Teresa lived, inside the fortified city walls of Avila. It’s a stunning Carmelite Baroque style building, and it’s also free to visit.
Want to visit for yourself?
This guide has everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Let’s jump right in!
The St Teresa of Avila church, often mistakingly called Convent of Santa Teresa because it’s build right next to the convent, is a monument I highly recommend visiting in Avila. There is a special atmosphere in the church, and I loved how calm and serene it was. Oh and also, it holds special relics, such as the finger of Santa Teresa.
In this travel guide about the Iglesia Santa Teresa in Avila, Spain, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see, from learning facts & visiting the church to opening hours, entry fee and more.
Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Where is the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila?
The Iglesia Santa Teresa is located in the city of Avila, Spain, north west of Madrid.
The church is situated in the city center, inside the city walls. It’s on the south side of the fortified walls, a 8 minutes walk from the Avila Cathedral.
Convento de Santa Teresa Avila full address: 2 Plaza de la Santa 05001 Avila
St Teresa of Avila Facts
Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Iglesia Santa Teresa for you:
- the construction began in 1629, and the church was built in 1636
- the Iglesia Santa Teresa is part of the Carmelite convent, the building next to it
- the church is built on the house where Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada (Santa Teresa of Avila) was born
- there is a huge vaulted burial crypt under the church
- the church was designated a Historical Monument in 1886
Visiting the St Teresa of Avila Church
After exploring Segovia for most of the day, I drove to Avila, and reached the city in the middle of the afternoon.
I started my exploration of Avila by visiting the first Gothic Cathedral in Spain, the Avila Cathedral. I had literally no clue what to see next, so I just set out on the streets and walked at random.
At the end of a street, I saw the fortified wall, and decided to go check it out.
As I got close to the wall, there was an opening on the right side. I turned my head to see what was there, and was surprised to find a beautiful church, on a cute little square.
It was the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila.
I think a Mass had just finished, because there was a lot of locals in front of the church. I loved having this glimpse into the daily live of the Avileños.
At the front of the church, on one of the many benches (btw this is really nice, there are a lot of benches on the square, making it the perfect place to relax for a bit, have snack and a drink), there is a statue of Santa Teresa.
After enjoying the beautifully carved stone facade of the church, I decided to step inside.
Inside the Iglesia Santa Teresa
Having just explored the Avila Cathedral, I found a totally different atmosphere in the church. When I stepped in, the sounds of the city were muffled by the huge doors, and I found a total calmness.
I stepped lightly, moving forward to the center of the church, trying not to make any noise, to avoid offsetting the ambient serenity. As I got to the altar, I saw a couple sat on a bench, praying, or maybe simply contemplating the beautiful details.
Trying to make as little noise as possible, I switched my camera to silent mode, and captured this image.
Even if the church is pretty small, there are beautiful details everywhere. Here are a few:
On the side of the nave, you can access the Relics room.
The Relics Room
You’ll first pass through a golden room, fully decorated with golden ornaments, and paitings.
It’s such a change from the atmosphere in the church.
In the next room, you can see some of the relics of Santa Teresa, including the sole of one of her sandal, her rosary and a cord she used on herself for flagellation. Oh and the most sacred relic, a finger from the right hand of Santa Teresa!
Now that we’ve seen everything inside the church, let’s see what’s under it!
The Museum
Under the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila, there is a huge crypt. The crypt is now used as a museum, that you can visit.
The museum has ten rooms, in which you’ll find historical objects, tied to the life of Saint Teresa.
How to enter the Museum
To enter the museum, you need to get out of the church. When you exit the church, go to your right, and go to the narrow street along the church (Calle Intendente Aizpuru).
The entry of the museum is near the end of the street (1 minute walk).
The Puerta de Santa Teresa
The church is located on the south side of the fortified city, right next to the southern city wall.
In front of the church, you’ll find a gate, the Puerta de Santa Teresa.
When you’re done visiting the church, you can go through the gate, and follow the walls to experience the fortified walls of Avila from the outside.
Iglesia Santa Teresa Avila Tickets
You don’t have to buy a ticket to visit the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila, the entry is free, but you’ll have to purchase one for the museum.
Here are the prices for the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila tickets:
Museum tickets: 2€
Children under 12 years old: Free entry
The Santa Teresa Museum is included in the VISITAVILA card, a tourist card that adds to 40% discount if you visit multiple monuments in the city.
Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila Opening Hours
The opening hours for the Santa Teresa de Avila Iglesia change depending if you want to visit the church, the relics room or the museum. Make sure to check the opening times below to avoid coming when it’s closed.
Please note that last entry/last tickets sales are 30 minutes before closing time.
Relics Room: 9:30am to 1:30pm / 3:30pm to 7pm
Museum: 10am to 1:30pm / 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Closed on: Mondays
How to Get to the Iglesia de Santa Teresa – Avila
You can either get to the church in Avila by car, or by train.
By car
Avila is a perfect day trip from Madrid, and from other Spanish cities. You’ll find below the driving time from nearby cities:
From Madrid: 1h20 via highway, 1h40 without tolls
From Segovia: 1h
From Salamanca: 1h10
It’s difficult to drive and park in the city; the best option is to find a parking outside of the city walls, then walk to the center.
When you’ll reach Avila, head to the north west of the city, right outside of the city walls. This is where you’ll find the cheapest parking options, and the most parking spaces available.
By train
If you don’t have a car, you can get to Avila by train from Madrid. There is a direct train that goes straight from Madrid to Avila.
From: Madrid-Chamartin
To: Avila
Duration: 1h32 minutes
Cost: 13€ (average price)
Book here: Train to Avila
You can also take the trains from other cities in Spain (Barcelona, Toledo, …), just click on the link above to see all options.
From the Avila train station, you can walk to the city center, which will take you around 15 minutes.
Where to Stay near the Santa Teresa Church in Avila
If you’re visiting the Santa Teresa de Avila church and Avila, you have several options for where to stay. You’ll find below hotels depending on your travel style:
Budget: Hostel El Rincón
Cheapest accommodation in Avila, for around 30€ per night. It comes with private bathroom and free wifi.
This hostel has the best location, it’s within the fortified walls of Avila, and everything is within walking distance. There’s also a free toiletries in the bathroom for your comfort.
If you’re travelling with 2 other people, check out the option below which is way better, and costs the same.
Comfy: Vallespin Suite
The Vallespin Suite is my favorite accommodation for a comfy stay in Avila, for around 60€ per night for the full suite, which can host 3 people (that’s 20€ per person if you’re 3)
It’s ideally located inside the fortified walls of Avila, and it’s a 8 minutes walk from the Cathedral. The beds are pretty comfy, and the included breakfast makes it a perfect choice for your stay in Avila.
Luxury: La Casa del Presidente
The best hotel in Avila, hands down.
La Casa del Presidente has everything you’ll need, and even more: free parking, breakfast included, incredible rooms, a swimming pool, and the location… The hotel is right next to the Avila fortified walls, you can’t be closer!
Visit Spain
Planning a trip to Avila and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:
Avila Guides:
Visit the First Gothic Cathedral in Spain – in Avila!
Spain Guides:
How to get from Madrid to Segovia
I hope you enjoy your trip to the Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila and to Spain!
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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