Ávila is a province in the region of Castile and León in Spain, known for its rich history, cultural heritage, excellent cuisine and natural landscapes, and now also for its QUALITY DARK SKIES, meaning it has become an ideal national and European destination for astronomical observation and the development of astrotourism in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula.
The darkness of the Ávila sky for the practice of astrotourism offers a unique experience for people seeking to enjoy the beauty of the night-time universe in a protected natural setting and with ideal conditions for astronomical observation.
The Gredos Regional Park, besides its impressive landscapes for nature tourism and hiking, is an excellent place to contemplate the heavens, and a place where astrotourism is already a star activity for visitors and tourists.
Ávila already has a micro sector of businesses focussing on astrotourism, offering their services in the province’s five districts, so that any visitor, whether already keen or not yet on astronomy, can contemplate the heavens under a quality sky, with the help of qualified staff with the guidance of expert Starlight and Skylab Dynamiser astronomical monitors who organise astro activities; in this way you can enjoy the maximum benefit of the Ávila astronomical experience, and also of astrophotography. As well as this, astrotourists can stay in accommodation specialising in this sector.
Specialised services Accommodation specialising in Astroturism
Besides astrotourism, Ávila offers varying night-time tourist activities relating to the combination of enjoying nature and stargazing. There are guided tours available, along with astronomy workshops and activities related to nature at night-time.
Astro Experiencies Astrophotography
In the province of Ávila we have a total of 247 municipalities from where you can enjoy this ecotourism option, and to date there are fifty odd municipalities which have set about offering their own astronomical viewing points.
These viewing points are easily accessible open spaces, with strategic locations at a distance from population centres and without light pollution, all linked to stargazing.
From the astronomical viewing points, you can engage in astronomy-related activities, from night sky observation, observation of astronomical events such as eclipses, or any astrotourism experience involving enjoyment of the heavens.
Currently in the province of Ávila, the following infrastructures for star viewing points have been set up:
Star viewing points
