In the year 711 AD, a Moorish army led by Tariq ibn Ziyad landed in southern Spain near a rock formation, starting the Moorish conquest of the Iberian peninsula. That rock came to be known as the "Mountain of Tariq" or, in Arabic, "Jebel Tariq" known today as Gibraltar.

The moors failed to conquer all of the peninsula and thus the Christians were able to start the reconquest, but it would take them another 700 years to achieve it. The last Moorish king, Abu 'abd Allah Muhammad XII, was defeated and expelled from Granada in 1492.

With the Moors came the Jews who set up flourishing communities. These three cultures had a profound effect on Spain and this influence on language, art and architecture survived the expulsion of the Moors and Jews.

Today, Ávila, like many cities and villages throughout Spain celebrates this cultural heritage with various events in a mediaeval setting. It's a chance to dress up and enjoy yourself.