Exactly in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula and Sistema Central of the Carpetovetónica -GREDOS-, heart of Spain; anybody tourist or graceful traveller who visits CANDELEDA astonished and wondered, will discover:

A EXTREMELY GOOD PLACEMENT: About an hour and a half away of Madrid... In the highway of Extremadura E-90 and kilometerstone 148, linking with the AV-910 Oropesa-Candeleda road, the C-50l Madrid-Plasencia road and the N-502. In the geographic center and close to "INHERITANCE WORLD CITIES", like AVILA, SALAMANCA, CACERES and TOLEDO. Geographically situated in South GREDOS and with coordinates 40º 9' 30" North and 5º 14' 30" West... In "Tietar and La Vera Valley" considered as the "Lung and fertil leisure and hope valley, rest, relax and pantry of Madrid". CANDELEDA is confluence and bridge, beginning and end of three regions; "Levante and roof of Castilla", "Andalucia of Avila" and "LUSH GARDEN OF EUROPE" so is known and called..

OFFERING:

Historically to appear as the genesis or poblation origin of the "homo sapiens" of our province, -Avila- and consecuently, the origin of a "milennial" folk with traces of rupestrine paintings and the CELTICUM CASTRUS (hilltop with castles in ruins) in EL RASO (4500 years before V, IV, III,II and I centuries b. C.) 20 Has. surface and about 300 houses and 1500 population, aproximately.
Inproving its history, the Postoloboso's sanctuary or old hermitage of Saint Juan, in front of Portam Latinam (today rebuilt (one part of it) in a private property), in which a lot of romanic and visigothic rests were discovered. This interesting and worthful relics, with the rest of the Celticum Castrus (in Spanish Castro) and its necropolis, will proudly figure in the future "GREDOS MUSEUM".

Candeleda became a spiritual center of the surroundings through centuries with EL ROSARITO's convent and monastery (actually of Ntra. Sra. del Rosario), which shelters the veneration for the monk, who belonged to the Cister Order, "Saint Bernardo of Candeleda" -although he wasn't canonized- whose rests remain in the old hermitage of Saint Blas. This hermitage is placed in the Cañada's park and market , prototype of the Mesta and nomadism in the way to PUERTO REAL DE CANDELEDA43Kb..

And as a complement, the cult and devotion for the mother of God, the Virgin of Chilla, guardian Saint of Candeleda and Gredos, in the "Sacred Mountain"51Kb., called "sky's smile and altar" or "love nest", whose image and spiritual presence remain in any pilgrim who visits the hermitage. The feasts of Chillas (second and third Sunday of September) are declared to be of National Tourist Interest.52Kb.

PARISH CHURCH, typical and original building in rustic gothic's style, 15th century, that contains a marvellous and singular ceramic retable, of the 16th century. It counts also with beautiful stone carvings, grates and gold-silver work.

OROGRAPHY AND CLIMATOLOGY:Candeleda's relief is so original and unique, inside of the Peninsula, that its municipal boundary of 215,51 km2 is the ROOF -with 2.592m. in its Macizo Central heights- and at the same time "jawfall or the highest slope in Castilla" - 252 m. above sea level, in the Rosarito's pond and in the riversides of Tietar (river). All that makes the salutary "microclime" and exuberant vegetation. "Tiene vegas y llanos feraces, y la altíva sierra con el Almanzor, nieve eterna en las cumbres de Gredos, que dan fruto y flores al beso del sol..." - sing your hymn -.

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