Iglesia Santa Teresa de Avila – Explore the Birthplace of Santa Teresa

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:

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.

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:

Best Sunrise Spot in Mallorca

Free Walking Tour of Segovia

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.