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Segovia
is
truly
a
beautiful
city,
by far
one of
the
best
we
have
seen.
The
city
is the
capital
of the
province
of the
same
name
and it
sits
between
the
Eresma
and
Clamores
rivers,
12km
from
the
Sierra
de
Guadarrama.
Segovia
is a
province
of
Castilla
& Leon.
its
proximity
to the
high
mountains
gives
the
city a
cold
but
invigorating
climate.
Freezing
temperatures
are
common
in the
winter
months.
Segovia
is
just
90km
from
Madrid.
Segovia
has
the
nickname
'The
Stone
Ship'
due to
the
location
of its
Alcazar
castle
perched
on the
rocks,
resembling
the
prow
of a
ship,
whilst
the
Cathedral
tower
appears
as its
mast. |
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Segovia
has an
interesting
history
and
this
is
evident
as you
explore
the
city
and
all
its
marvellous
buildings.
One of
the
most
impressive
monuments
in the
city
and
indeed
the
whole
world,
has to
be the
Roman
aqueduct,
now
adopted
as the
heraldic
emblem
of the
city.
The
construction
has
been
attributed
to
Hercules
whilst
some
legends
say
the
aqueduct
was
created
by the
Devil
himself.
The
actual
date
of
construction
is not
known
but it
is
believed
that
it was
built
in the
second
half
of the
1st
century
A.D or
the
early
years
of the
2nd
century.
It was
built
of dry
blocks
of
ashlar,
with
no
kind
of
mortar.
The
weight
of the
blocks
and
the
laws
of
physics
alone
keep
the
structure
standing.
It is
728
metres
long
with a
maximum
height
of
nearly
29
metres
and
consists
of 167
arches.
Water
flowed
along
the
channel
right
up
until
1884.
It was
designed
to
carry
water
to the
city
from
15km
away. |
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Segovia's
city
walls
are
worthy
of a
mention,
constructed
in the
11th
century.
The
walls
begin
and
end at
the
Alcazar
and
stretch
to a
length
of
3km.
There
were
originally
seven
gates
in the
walls
but
only
three
remain
to
this
day.
All
are
worth
a
look.
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One of
the
nicest
and
most
interesting
places
to
rest
is the
Plaza
Mayor,
where
you
will
find
the
Town
Hall,
the
Cathedral
and
the
Theatre.
There
are
some
very
nice
restaurants
here
and
several
good
hotels.
Locals
meet
here
to
enjoy
the
sun or
shelter
from
the
rain
in one
of the
many
nearby
bars.
A
bandstand
stands
in the
centre.
The
Cathedral
(pictured
left)
stands
in
Plaza
Mayor.
The
first
stone
was
laid
on 8th
June
1525.
its
huge
tower
with
its
Gothic
spire
stands
high
above
the
city.
The
current
spire
of 88
metres
is a
replacement
after
a
lightning
strike
destroyed
the
original
in
1614.
The
Cathedral
is
full
of
treasures,
not
least
of all
the
stained
glass
windows
that
date
from
the
17th
century
and
the
organs
from
the
18th
century.
The
Cathedral
also
houses
an
interesting
museum.
In the
centre
of the
chapel
in the
museum
is the
tomb
of
Prince
Peter,
son of
Henry
II,
who
was
killed
when
he
fell
from
the
arms
of his
nurse
on one
of the
parapets
of the
Alcazar.
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In the
Plaza
de San
Millan
stands
an
interesting
church.
The
Church
of San
Millan
dates
from
the
12th
century
and is
the
oldest
in the
city.
It was
ordered
to be
built
by
Alfonso,
King
of
Aragon.
It has
been
noted
as one
of the
finest
examples
of
Spanish
Romanesque
religious
buildings.
The
interior
houses
classic
examples
of
statues
and
paintings. |
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One of
the
finest
and
best
preserved
churches
in
Segovia
is
La
Trinidad,
constructed
in the
12th
century
on the
site
of an
older
church.
San
Martin
is
another
fine
example.
Of
simple
design
with a
ground
plan
in the
shape
of a
Greek
cross,
it has
porticoes
around
three
sides
which
were
added
at a
later
date.
Inside
are
various
important
tombs
and
paintings
of the
15th
century.
Pictured
left
is the
theatre
located
in the
Plaza
Mayor. |
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Just
out of
the
city
you
will
find
the
Church
of the
Vera
Cruz,
or
Knights
Templar,
pictured
right.
It was
consecrated
in
1208
and
designated
a
National
Monument
in
1919.
The
ground
plan
consists
of a
twelve
sided
building
with a
tower
to the
south.
San
Lorenzo
Church
stands
in the
plaza
of the
same
name
and
again,
is one
of the
city's
jewels.
Other
churches
include
San
Esteban,
San
Andres,
San
Sebastian,
San
Clemente,
San
Justo,
San
Pedro
and
San
Nicolas. |
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On the
outskirts
of the
city,
but
clearly
visible
from
the
Alcazar
is the
Monastery
of El
Parral.
Founded
by
Henry
IV of
Spain,
it has
been a
National
Monument
since
1914.
The
building
is
spectacular
and
the
gardens
are a
pleasure.
The
river
runs
over a
waterfall
at the
entrance.
One of
the
most
impressive
features
is the
altarpiece
that
stands
behind
the
high
altar.
Other
Monasteries
and
Convents
in
Segovia
include
Santa
Cruz
la
Real,
San
Antonio
el
Real,
the
Convent
of
Santa
Isabel
and
the
Monastery
of the
Discalced
Carmelites. |
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Segovia
has
many
important
palaces
but
without
any
doubt
the
most
impressive
has to
be the
Alcazar(pictured
above
and
right).
We
thought
it was
the
best
we had
seen
in the
whole
of
Spain.
Dating
back
to the
12th
century,
the
Alcazar
is
visible
for
miles
around
the
city
and it
stands
in an
exceptional
position.
It
takes
on an
almost
fairytale
appearance
with
its
many
conical
turrets
and
moated
walls.
It is
possible
to
view
the
interior
and it
has to
be
well
worth
it.
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As you
wander
the
streets
of
Segovia,
you
will
see
some
of the
most
unusual
buildings
in
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