Segovia

It was just a short walk from the official caravan parking to the famous Roman aqueduct which leads into the centre and to the Alcázar. It was built in the first century to transport water from the Rio Frio river over 15 km before arriving in the city. In town it makes an abrupt turn and then the monument begins to display its full splendor. Here the aqueduct reaches a height of up to 28.5 m. In total there are 167 arches which were built of unmortared, brick-like granite blocks.

It had been kept functioning throughout the centuries and provided water to Segovia until the mid 19th
century.

The next day we went into town again to visit the most important buildings like the Medieval Alcázar and the Cathedral. From the aqueduct we climbed the hill through a street full of little shops to the Plaza Mayor where many restaurants wait for tourists.

 

The Alcázar of Segovia is the most distinctive castle-palace in Spain by virtue of its shape – like
the bow of a ship. The Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but
has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College
and a military academy since then.

After the Alcazar we first needed a lunch break at the Plaza Mayor before we went into the huge cathedral which was built in a Gothic style in the mid-16th century – the last Gothic cathedral in Spain! The Gothic vaults are 33 meters high by 50 meters wide and 105 long. For me the net vaults were the most impressive part of this cathedral.