This past summer my daughter and I went to Segovia, Spain as part of her Senior trip.   She took Spanish classes for 4 years in High School and was excited about putting it to use and seeing Spain.   We went to Segovia on a side tour from Madrid where we saw both Segovia and Avila.   To me, Segovia is a much nicer village that I now wish we had simply toured by itself.   The rush of traveling to Avila and cramming in another location, while nice, could have been better spent in Segovia at a more leisurely pace. 

On the bus ride we were able to catch a glimpse of Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen. The Spainish dictator, Francisco Franco, said the monument should be a national symbol of atonement and reconciliation. Franco is such a controversial figure in Spain that his remains were removed from the monument area and any veneration to him was also removed.

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Nestled about an hour and 15 minutes north and west of Madrid, Segovia has a population of around 60,000 and from where we parked it was an easy to walk to the downtown area and the many historical sights. The pace and warmth of Segovia was a nice respite for the hustle bustle of Madrid.  

The Alcazar

Our first stop after parking our tour bus was the steady incline leading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alcazar.   Like many things in Europe the Roman’s had first used Alcazar as a fortress but around 1124 the building began as a wooden structure set on top of the Roman ruins.  Then during the middle ages, circa 1418-1469, much of what we see today was built.   Alcazar served as the residence of many Castilian monarchs. 

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Later, the monarchs moved the royal court from Segovia to Madrid.  At this time the Alcazar became a Royal Artillery School and, in 1896, became a Military School.   Our guide thought that the Alcazar was the inspiration of Sleeping Beauties castle and not the castle of Neuschwanstein in Germany.

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City Center and Cathedral

My daughter and I, actually, was too caught up in exploring and photographing the Alcazar and got left behind by our tour group (we weren’t the only ones). After a bit of panic, we simply walked uphill from the Alcazar on the Calle Marques del Arco we came to the City Center, Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral of Segovia.  The Plaza Mayor is a cute square to grab a drink, do a little shopping and also to take your pictures of the Cathedral.

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We caught back up to our group as they were exiting the Cathedral so we didn’t get to see too much on the inside (just a glimpse), but it was definitely a beautiful construction on the outside.   We could have rushed back during the lunch break to see the inside of the cathedral but after just seeing several churches in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid, we simply said “pass” on this one and spent more time at the Roman Aquaduct.

 Aquaduct

While the Alcazar is amazing the Aquaduct of Segovia isn’t too far behind. Originally running over 11 miles in length it brought water to Segovia from the Frio river.   No one is sure when it was actually constructed but scholars seem to agree that it was built around 112 AD.  Only 1900 years ago!   Made with just granite-like blocks and no mortar it was used till the 1850’s when leakage and contamination made it unusable.   Still preserved, it is Segovia’s signature architectural piece.

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After taking the requisite photos of the Aquaduct and its many arches, we headed back down the avenue Acuducto towards the bus parking lot, to continue on to the next part of the tour.  

If you ever find yourself in Madrid with a bit of free time (a day), I highly recommend catching a local bus or buying a tour to Segovia it will be worth your trip to see the sights, pick up some souvenirs, and also to enjoy a glass of wine or two.   Let me know if Segovia sounds like a good side trip or destination for your Spanish vacation.