Before the Romans, the hills of Ávila were the land of the Vettones, a people who lived in large fortified hill towns (castros) and carved bulls and boars out of granite: the verracos. From Robledillo, their most impressive hill fort is almost on your doorstep.
Castro de Ulaca (10 minutes away)
One of the largest hill forts in Iberia, on a granite hill in Solosancho: walls, house remains, the sacrificial altar with carved steps and a sauna cut into the rock. All about it in Castro de Ulaca.
Villaviciosa verraco (8 minutes away)
The village keeps a stone verraco, and Villaviciosa castle is well worth a stop.
Las Cogotas (about 40 minutes away)
In Cardeñosa, north of Ávila, by the Las Cogotas reservoir: a hill fort with walled enclosures and a large cemetery.
La Mesa de Miranda (under an hour away)
In Chamartín: three walled enclosures, towers, a ditch and fields of upright stones, where the last foothills of Gredos meet the plain.
Toros de Guisando (just over an hour away)
In El Tiemblo: four verracos standing in a row, the most famous of all.
And very close to the cottages, though from a later age, the Hispano-Visigothic village of Castro de Navasangil. The hill forts are in the open: wear comfortable shoes and bring water and sun protection.
