As a backgrounder, Segovia is a picturesque old city with twisting alleyways, the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe and pedestrian-only streets, all bordered by a medieval wall and two rivers. In 1985, this sleepy Castillan town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
With its famous Roman aqueduct and a stunning castle, rumored to have inspired Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle, Segovia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.
As soon as you enter the city, you will be met by the imposing structure of this colossal edifice. The Aqueduct of Segovia, the symbol of the city, is best known for the civil engineering feat owing to its monumentality, to its excellent state of conservation, and in particular to its location in one of the most beautiful urban sites in the world.
Architecture of Spain author Alejandro Lapunzina calls Segovia's aqueduct "the most impressive Roman structure in Spain" because of its "long span, architectural beauty, and dramatic presence in the center of a dense urban fabric."
Begun in the 1st century AD under Emperor Domitian and probably completed under Trajan in the early 2nd century, the aqueduct brought water to Segovia from the Frío River 10 miles (16 km) away.
Some of the arches in the center of the aqueduct were destroyed during the Muslim conquest of the 9th century, but they were restored in the 15th century by order of the Catholic kings. Sadly, after surviving remarkably intact for almost 2,000 years, the aqueduct is now being seriously threatened by the pollution and traffic vibrations of the modern world. At its highest point, the water channel is 100 feet off the ground. The visible part of the great structure consists of 800 meters of granite blocks, 166 arches, and 120 pillars. To top it all, not a bit of mortar or cement was used to hold it all together. Instead, the stones were precisely cut to transmit and bear the load in a perfect equilibrium.
As soon as we alighted from the bus, we started on a walking tour of this beautiful city, with the tour guide explaining the history, geography, economy, and everything about the city, pointing out, at the same time, places of interest.
I hope the photos below could give you a sense of how the city looks like:
Begun in the 16th century but not finished until 1768, Segovia Cathedral is the last Gothic cathedral to be built in Spain. It stands on the spot where Isabella was proclaimed Queen of Castile.
Segovia Cathedral at night:
Our walking tour culminated at the Alcázar of Segovia. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for as I’ve been dreaming to go inside this castle since I saw it last year.
The Alcázar of Segovia is a stone fortification. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of the rivers Eresma and Clamores near the Guadarrama mountains, it is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship. The Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy since then. The castle is one of the inspirations for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle.
Below are AMAZING pictures taken outside and inside the Alcázar:
The photo below is the Monastery of St. John of the Cross that I took from the castle (looking down). Last year, I was at the Monastery where I had a photo taken (where the parked cars are) with the castle in the background (looking up). I’m so glad it has come full circle.
After the tour, we were given free time to do whatever we wanted to do. So, I made use of it by quickly having lunch, after which I headed for the shops. Unfortunately, it was the feast of St. Fructus, the patron saint of Segovia, and therefore a holiday in Segovia, so almost all the shops were closed. Darn!
So I just enjoyed walking through the twisted and narrow alleyways of the city while enjoying my gelato, before heading back to the meeting place.
Back on the coach, we then headed back to the hotel in Madrid. I made use of some free time to have a quick nap and shower, and then dolled up for the evening.
At the appointed time, we boarded our coach and were dropped off at the restaurant for our Farewell Dinner…
…..where we were serenaded ~
……and served yummy-licious paella ~
……and flaming dessert! What a wonderful way to cap a fantabulous tour!
After our Highlight Dinner, I then took the opportunity to have snapshots with Rafael, the Tour Director ~
…..and Santana, the Driver ~
After saying my goodbyes to newfound friends, I had photos with them and exchanged contact info, as I will be leaving very early the following morning. After some hugs, I then called it a night so I can pack for the return journey home.
Postscript: While it’s true that Spain’s capital doesn’t have the immediate cachet of Rome, Paris or even that other city up the road, Barcelona; or even if its architecture, though beautiful, is no Colosseum, no Eiffel Tower, no Gaudí-inspired zaniness to photograph and then tell your friends back home, ‘this is Madrid’, yet this city is an idea, a way of living for the moment that can be hard to resist.
To Be Continued....
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