Villaviciosa is a village 5 km from Robledillo, known for its 15th-century castle, the landscape around it and many historic remains. Nearby you can also visit the Castro de Ulaca, an important Celtic site, and the Castro de Navasangil, a Visigothic settlement.
Villaviciosa lies on the south side of the Amblés Valley, surrounded by the Sierra de la Paramera, 25 km from Ávila. Its 15th-century castle is the main sight, but it also has many older remains. It is the starting point for the Castro de Ulaca, one of the largest Celtic hill forts in Europe, and for the Visigothic Castro de Navasangil.
Villaviciosa Castle
It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries by Nuño González del Águila y Guzmán to guard the route from the Amblés Valley into the Sierra de la Paramera. It belonged to one branch of the Águila family and later passed by inheritance to the Marquis de la Roca, who sold the estate, the castle and the village to the State. The castle is not very large and was built in several stages. You can still make out what may have been the moat and entrance bridge. The courtyard is reached through a large round arch between two towers. The so-called Ladies’ Tower has a fine window beneath a coat of arms showing a rampant lion over an eagle, and the walls bear the arms of several generations.
It is well preserved, complete and restored.
You can also see smaller archaeological remains, such as the Antas tomb, the Cimbanillo (an old bell gable standing on a huge granite boulder) and an old mill by the stream.
