While staying for a while in Madrid, I went to explore its neighboring cities that I find very accessible. One of which is
Segovia, a known side trip of travelers to
Madrid as only it only takes a quick 2-hour bus or 30-minute AVE (high-speed train) ride to get there.
I’d always remember Segovia for its distinct Romanesque character. It’s a beautiful ancient city tucked in central Spain, a region that’s called
Castilla y León where you could probably find all the best castles in this country. When in
Castilla y León, imagine yourself as if you’re being brought to medieval times: An experience that’s one of a kind and the true essence of traveling Spain.
Acueducto de Segovia
Upon entering Segovia, this massive structure appears that leaves an amazing first impression of the city. This is the long and tall
Acueducto de Segovia (Aqueduct of Segovia), which is one of the well-preserved Roman Aqueducts in the world. It was built around 2000 years ago that worked as an ancient waterway of Segovia until the 19th century.
Legend has it that this aqueduct was allegedly built by the devil Lucifer to win a woman’s soul. Looking closer at the stones of the aqueduct, the holes on it are said to be markings of Lucifer’s fingers.
Within the vicinity of the aqueduct are strips of restaurants and cafes. As I noticed, cuisine in Segovia also has a Romanesque influence serving Italian food from ciabatta, pizza, to pasta.
Aside from Italian food, a popular dish in Segovia is the roasted suckling pig, called the
cochinillo. I find it very similar to the
lechon of the Philippines, but the size of the roasted pig seems smaller.
Alcázar de Segovia
One of my main reasons for visiting Segovia is to tick off an item from my travel bucket list: to see the
Alcázar de Segovia (Alcazar of Segovia). Seeing pictures of it from the internet caught my intention, and I was glad to finally see it in actual. It’s so beautiful! This castle sits on top of a hill, and there’s a stunning view of Segovia around it.
Aside from being named World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it’s the castle that served as an inspiration to Walt Disney to represent his vision of a magical castle as seen in Disneyland and in a few Disney animated movies. From the outside of the
alcázar, the blue roof clearly shows the huge resemblance to the Disney castle.
The highlight of the castle includes the palace grounds, the Artillery Museum, and the amazing view from the Torre de Juan II. Full access to Alcázar de Segovia costs EUR 8.
Catedral de Segovia
Another must-see in the city is the
Catedral de Segovia (Segovia Cathedral).
This cathedral is in modern Gothic style, as it’s said to be the last Gothic church built in Spain.
This church sits in front of Plaza Mayor (main square). But actually, the original cathedral of Segovia was constructed in front of the castle (
Alcázar de Segovia). However, during the civil war (Revolt of
Comuneros) in 1520, the first cathedral was set on fire.
The cathedral has a general entrance ticket of EUR 3, but free admission on Sundays from 9:30AM-1:30PM.
Have you visited any real-life castle like that in Segovia?
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