AVILA (ancient Abula), a city of Spain, the capital of the above province, is situated on the right bank of the Adaja, about 3000 feet above the sea-level, at the termination of the Guadarrama Mountains. It is surrounded by an ancient wall still in good preservation, about two miles in circumference, crowned by a breastwork, with towers of great strength. Avila is the seat of a bishop suffragan to Santiago, and has a Gothic cathedral, 8 parish churches, several monasteries and schools, an infirmary and a foundling hospital. It was formerly the seat of a university, and had large woollen manufactures, but its institutions and industry have greatly decayed. The inhabitants now maintain about 15,000 head of sheep. This is the birthplace of Sta Teresa de Jesus, the patroness of Spain. Pop. 4121.