Places of Interest in Castilla-León -
Segovia

Segovia is ruled by a roman engineering milestone, the Acueducto, that together with the cathedral, known as the "Maid of the cathedrals". The Alcázar, its numerous religious and civilian buildings, provide the town an attractive & well-preserved medieval structure that was one of the arguments put forward in order to obtain the World Heritage title which it recieved in 1985.

Conquered by the Romans in the 1st century, it became a military emporium and the admiration of the whole empire. Following the Fall of Rome it was besieged by Barbarians and then the Moors. With Alfonso 6th, the Christian monarch of Castilla, it obtained political power and became an important economic power due to its quality livestock and cloth industry. At this time most of its Romanesque monuments were built, leading it to now outnumber any other European city in terms of this kind of construction. The city has been marked by 3 different cultures. Christians, Jews and Muslims left their mark in Segovia's narrow streets and influenced its traditional architecture. This is clearly seen in the Paseo del Azoguejo (avenue), which for centuries was the main square, trade crossroads, meeting point for social gatherings and centre for inter-trade dealings.

The Roman aqueduct is and will forever be a symbol of the city. This 2000-year-old monument is one of the greatest pieces of work left by the Romans. But according to legend, it came about due to laziness and had nothing to do with Rome. There is a legend that a young woman who, tired from carrying water through the streets, made a pact with the devil, swearing to sell her soul if the water arrived at her doorstep before the cock crowed the following morning. The devil thought this a fair deal and began work immediately. However, at cockcrow the following morning, there was one stone left out of place. His efforts that night had been in vain because he lost the young girl's soul. The construction, which is considered one of the best examples of civil engineering in Spain, was designed to send water from the Río Acebeda (river) to the top of the city. 166 granite arches and 20,400 stone blocks hold up this almost 15km-long aqueduct. Oddly, the stones are not joined together by anything, but manage to keep their balance due to a system of force and gravity.

The Calle Real, a pedestrian street leading to the Plaza Mayor, is the main connecting street in the city, displaying an array of striking architecture from the late 16th and early 17th centuries to the 20th century. A short walk away is the Mirador de la Canaleja (balcony), the Casa de los Picos (house named after the peak-shaped bosses decorating its façade), the Palacio de los del Río, the Palacio de los Torreagero, the Palacio del Conde de Alpuente, the Alhóndiga building and the nearby Plaza de Medina del Campo.

The Plaza de Medina del Campo is wide open space adorned up with elegant buildings, bringing to mind the Italian plazas. The Plaza Mayor should not be missed, the heart of the city, it is dominated by the pinnacled eastern end of the Cathedral. This beautiful building is an example of the late Gothic style and once staged theatre performances in Segovia in front of the Patio del Hospital de la Misericordia (courtyard) or at the more recent Teatro Juan Bravo (theatre) which now stages such performances. The Cathedral is known as the "Dama de las Catedrales",(Lady of Cathedrals) due to its elegance and slenderness.

Another important place of interest in Segovia is the Alcázar, crowning the city, with the Río Eresma and Río Clamores (rivers) on either side. It is a typical castle described in a fairytale and it only takes imagination to transform it into the scene of a legend. In the 12th century it became home to the Royal Family, witnessing historical events such as Queen Isabel the Catholic Monarch leaving the castle on the day of her coronation as Queen of Castilla in 1474.

The barrios segovianos deserves a special mention. These districts have kept their original charm. Examples include the Barrio de las Canonjías (which preserves its beautiful Romanesque houses), Barrio de los Caballeros (past residence of noble families in Segovia), Barrio de la Judería (or Jewish Quarter, preserving its beautiful synagogues).The outlying areas such as San Millán, Santa Eulalia, San Lorenzo, La Alameda, San Marcos-La Fuencisla are also worth a visit. The Romanesque style can be seen in many places throughout Segovia. Some of the churches which should be included in any visit are the Iglesia de San Martín, San Justo, San Clemente, San Andrés, San Esteban and San Millán.

Juan Bravo was one of the most respected gentlemen of Segovia in his time and went down in history as a heroic Comunero. Bravo rose up along with his co-Comuneros Padilla and Maldonado against the abuse of powers by foreign governors under Carlos I. His character was portrayed in Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes.

No visit to the city would be complete without discovering the handicrafts from over 100 workshops in the province. Embroidered cloths, glasswork, pottery and leather are all examples of the skills existing in the area.

Visits to the Zuloaga museum, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo "Esteban Vicente" or the Casa de Antonio Machado (house of the poet, Antonio Machado) are an absolute must.