Segovia

We took a daytrip to Segovia, a nice little town a couple hours out of Madrid – well, we actually took a high velocity train and got there in 25 minutes. We went when my parents were here, but liked it so much that we went again last weekend to see everything we hadn’t done yet.  The pictures are a mix from both trips.

 

Firstly, the most amazing thing in all of Segovia is their roman aqueduct.  It’s this beautiful, huge feature that was meant to bring water to the city 2000 years ago.  It was built around 50 A.D. and was still delivering water to the city until 2004, when it started to leak very badly and now they are just trying to preserve it.  At its tallest it is 94’ high.

We walked to the end of it, but they have just put up a monument and don’t show where it continued to stretch for miles up to the river.  Ah well, it would have been neat to see.

The next most incredible thing we saw the the Cathedral.  The main one in Madrid pales against how incredible the cathedral of Segovia is.

The inside was beautiful too.  There was the main alter, but it was surrounded all around by different chapels to different saints.  There was a lot of blood and it was a bit gory.  This is where Queen Isabel (de los Reyes Catolicos) was crowned queen and I think it was also where she was married to Ferdinand.

The last major thing we saw was the Alcazar, which is the castle.  It is claimed that Disney used this castle to fashion the castle of Sleeping Beauty. This is the castle fortress where Ferdinand and Isabel, Los Reyes Catolicos, began their reign together.  It has been used as a fortress, palace, a military school and a prison for very important guests.  It was wonderful to see.

If anyone is visiting Madrid, I would say that the absolutely best place to go on a day trip is Segovia.  I hope everyone can see it someday.