3 Places to Visit in Segovia

Less than an hour’s drive from Madrid, Segovia is a UNESCO World Heritage City steeped in history from the Spanish golden age and beyond. Most of the activity is around the stylish Plaza Mayor, Plaza Azoguejo and Calle del Carmen, which are busy during the day for lunch and lively after dark when Spaniards take their late-night tapas. The entire town can be easily covered on foot, with narrow streets leading between outstanding, well-preserved monuments dating back hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years.

Practical Information

• Visitors can reach Segovia by car or with a scenic regional train over the mountains from Madrid, or take one of the many buses that run throughout the day. Although the population of Segovia is a little over 50,000, a steady stream of day-trippers from Madrid and elsewhere swarms over the town’s monuments and fills its restaurants. Visitors should also not overlook Segovia’s surrounding towns and villages along the River Doraton, which boast monuments from Roman times. EuroResidentes recommends Sepulveda, home to the largest colony of vultures in Europe, and the walled medieval village of Pedraza.

Roman Aqueduct

• The city’s other defining architectural achievement is over 2,000 years old. The granite Roman aqueduct spanning the Plaza del Azoguejo (Old Market Square) packs in 118 arches and reaches 95 feet at its highest point. The locals simply call this 2,400-foot-long marvel “El Puente.” Seen from the square, the aqueduct’s detail reveals itself close up: no adhesive material used to bind the 2-ton blocks together and stone cutting of outstanding craftsmanship. The square is also a great spot to sit on a terrace and enjoy lunch. Suckling pig and trout are local specialties. At night, the Aqueduct is illuminated to create a mesmerizing backdrop.
• Alcazar Castle

• Shaped like the bow of a ship and rising out of the old city, Segovia’s Alcazar Castle may look familiar. Indeed, the 12th-century stone construction was allegedly one of the inspirations for Disney’s Cinderella castle. A narrow flight of 152 steps climbs to the top of the castle tower, which has unmatched views over Vera Cruz church, the El Parral monastery and surrounding mountains of Castile y Leon. Parts of the fortress date from Roman times, but the imposing exterior has been remodeled consistently throughout history. Fodor’s raves about the castle’s intricate woodwork and room full of knights in shining armor.

Segovia Cathedral

• When construction began of the Segovia Cathedral in 1515, on the highest point in the town, it would be of the last Gothic cathedral in Spain. The cathedral measures 344 feet by 164 feet, with the nave 108 feet high. On the Plaza Mayor (main square) the cathedral was the site of Isabella’s coronation as Queen of Castile. Admission to the cathedral, which also contains older cloisters, antique manuscripts and jewelry, is free. The cathedral museum also has the first printed book in Spain, dating from 1472.