St Theresa Shrine
Near Salamanca is Avila, a World Heritage Site and a premiere tourist spot because of its old 11th century walls, old Churches and Cathedrals, and its medieval setting. The Convent of Theresa of Avila is a major pilgrimage spot. It is a 17th century convent/Church built after St. Theresa, also the patron saint of Spain. St. Theresa of Avila was canonized in the 17th century. It is claimed that this Church was built on the same spot that St. Theresa was born.
This church contains most of her relics and even those of her friend, St. John of the Cross. It still remains a convent for some nuns but most areas within the church is open to the public. The church is designed in the medieval Baroque style with paintings of St. Theresa doing miracles and one even showing St. Theresa in the act of levitating or floating in the air. Visit the Sala de Reliquias and see the exhibit of St Theresa including that of a finger from her right hand and the sole of one of her sandals. You also may want to visit the room where St. Theresa was born. Also on display for the more religious tourists, particularly Catholics, is her old rosary and her flagellating cord. See the convent’s little garden where she played when she was a child. Pilgrims come to this place to present their petitions to St. Theresa (also known as St Therese of the Child Jesus) so tourists should not be surprised to see a lot of people in wheelchairs and other types of petitioners in this spot. It can be a delightful religious experience.
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