The Roman Aqueduct, Segovia photographed by B. Townsend.
The Roman Aqueduct, Segovia photographed by B. Townsend.
It is said that the old part of Segovia
resembles a ship with the Alcazar as the bow and the Roman
aqueduct as the stern. The city sits high above two valleys, and
the ancient walls of the old section are hardly visible.
It is not a long ride out to Segovia whether you buy a day tour
or drive yourself. The highway is good and the buses are very
comfortable.
The Alcazar was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, the
building was enlarged during the 15th and the 18th century. It
was from the Alcazar that Queen Isabella went to Segovia's Plaza
Mayor to be crowned Queen of Castile. The Alcazar is a very interesting
building and a beautiful castle. The interior is a veritable museum
of tapestries, furniture, armor and art. It is well worth the
trip to Segovia to see it.
The
cathedral at Segovia was built in the 1500's and is an elegant
monument. It is late Gothic style and has interesting treasures
and works of art which include an 18th century carriage used in
religious processions with the cathedral's silver monstrance on
top. Also the old choir stalls and the cloister are to be noted.
The Roman
aqueduct, dating from 2000 years ago, was built to carry water
from the nearby mountains to the city. A good place to view the
aqueduct
is the Plaza del Azoguejo where the arches become double tiered
and rise to 100 feet above the plaza. There was no cement or mortar
used in its construction.
A very nice and historical restaurant is located beneath the shadow
of the aqueduct on the Plaza del Azoguejo. It is called the Meson
de Candido. The food is excellent, and the building dates back
to the 1500s and is an historic monument. There are several small
dining rooms, with walls decorated with pots, dishes, and pictures
of famous people who have dined there.
Segovia is walkable and there is a tourist office at 10 Plaza
Mayor.
For me, the aqueduct is my most vivid memory. Still standing after
2,000 years, it is a marvelous sight. Near the Meson de Candido
are several shops where you can purchase a very nice small sketch
of the aqueduct to take home to stir your memories. We have one
over our fireplace to remind us of our travels in Spain!
Links for more information:
World Heritage Cities: Segovia
