Segovia

Segovia is a town in Spain, known for its Aqueduct. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there

The city of Segovia is located 50 miles from Madrid and is only one hour away by bus, two hours by train (Cercanias) or thirty minutes by AVE (high speed train). Note that it shares its name with the province of which it is the capital.

Buses between Segovia and Madrid run once or twice an hour depending on time of day. In Madrid, they arrive/depart from Principe Pio bus station. The Segovia bus station is on Paseo de Ezequiel Gonzalez, near the Aqueduct. In December 2007, a new high-speed train line was opened connecting Segovia to many Spanish cities, in particular Madrid (30 minutes) and Valladolid (40 minutes). The new AVE (high-speed train) station is called Segovia-Guiomar and is 5km from the city, with a bus link every 15 minutes from the aqueduct.

Trains to Segovia from Madrid are typically an extension of the C-8b suburban rail line (beyond Cercedilla), and cost around 6 EUR for a one-way ticket. You can board a train heading for Segovia from several stations in Madrid (e.g. Atocha and Chamartin). Bus number 8 takes you from the train station to town centre.

Segovia is one of the Spanish cities competing to be chosen as European capital of culture in 2016, and is one of the favorites due to its culture and great heritage.

Traveling around

The walled Old Town is easily accessible on foot.

See

• Alcázar was built sometime around the 11th Century. The current facade was built by Phillip II. The Alcázar's interior is decorated in a variety of styles including Romansque, Gothic, Mudejar, and Renaissance. The Alcázar has played a very interesting and important role in Spanish history. It has had a variety of uses throughout history including: the home of the royal court of the Trastamara Dynasty, residence of Isabella the Catholic, the site of the wedding of Phillip II, home of the Spanish Artillery Academy, and currently as a museum and home of the Spanish General Military Archive. The Alcázar is also widely known to be Walt Disney's inspiration for Cinderella's Castle, and scenes from the Orson Welles film Chimes at Midnight were filmed on its premises. Entry 6 EUR.

• Aqueduct was built by the Romans around the late 1st Century AD to supply water to the roman military fort on the hill. The Aqueduct's highest point is 28 meters in Azoguejo Square.

• Casa de los Picos "The House of the Points" is a house located in the old city decorated with pyramid shaped points on the facade. The facade dates from the renaissance.

• Cathedral Segovia's cathedral was built in the Gothic style. Construction on the Cathedral was started in 1525 and completed in 1768. Visiting hours Nov-Mar 9AM-5:30PM, Apr-Oct 9AM-6:30PM. Entry 3 EUR (includes cloister and museum).

• Azoguejo Square is where you can see the aqueduct of Segovia in all of its glory. The aqueduct reaches its highest point of 28 meters in the middle of the square. The square is a great starting point for your exploration in Segovia.

• Museo de Segovia, C/ Socorro 11, Tel 921 460 613/15, museo.segovia@jcyl.es. The "Museum of Segovia" contains artefacts, models, and art related to the history, culture, lifestyle, etc of the city and the surrounding region. Visiting hours Su 10AM-2PM; Tu-Sa 10AM-2PM and either 4PM-7PM (Oct-Jun) or 5PM-8PM (Jul-Sep). Entry 1.20 EUR.

Eat

Segovia has many of the same famous dishes as the rest of Castilla. There are several dishes that are worth trying:

• Roasted suckling pig

• Roasted Lamb

• Veal/Beef

• Salads made from local vegetables and cheeses

• Judiones: a big bean stew

• Sausages: cured and cooked, with seasoned pork

• Tapas: Yes! there are tapas away from Madrid.

• Fish: good restaurants of Segovia have very good fish dishes. If you can, try the seasoned verdel. This is usually served as a little hors d'oeuvres while you take a look to the menu.

The typical restaurants in Segovia (and in Castilla as a whole) are called mesones. There are some examples:

• Meson Candido , +34 921 425 911, Azoguejo, 5, One of the most famous **mesones**

• Restaurante Jose Maria , +34 921 461 111, Cronista Lecea, 11 (Near Plaza Mayor), An excellent **meson**. It is almost impossible to get a table if you do not call in advance

• Meson Duque , Calle Cervantes (near Acueducto), One of the most prestigious one

You will find also another kind of restaurants:

• Cafeteria Orly, T. 921 46 13 18, Bajada del Carmen, 2

Also, try the local desserts. The ponche segoviano and the natillas are something you will not forget. You will find the original ponche at: Pasteleria El Alcazar, Look for it in the Plaza Mayor

You will find also excellent restaurants in all the Segovia province. For example:

• La venta vieja, Ctra.Nac-603 Km.80. Ortigosa Del Monte, An excellent (but a bit pricey) **meson** in the middle of the Castillian plains

• Restaurante Bar Marcial, Ctra. Nac. 110, Km. 227. Villacastin, Very good meals

Drink

Try the red wine and the "Ribera del Duero" in particular. There are also good white wines which are perfect with a good fish dish. Let me offer some advice: please do not ruin roast lamb with a coke. If you have to drive, the bottled water is also excellent. Moreover, for people who like them, strong liquors are offered at the end of a good meal, after the almost mandatory coffee. Segovia city also has the DYC whiskey distillery. The 10 year old version has a good reputation among the local population even it is something which a whisky expert (which I am not) must confirm.

Sleep

• Hostal-Bar Plaza , C/Cronista Lecea 11, tel 921 46 03 03. Just off the main square, they have clean, comfortable rooms, nearly hotel quality, at reasonable prices.

Buy

You can buy nice pottery, typical not only of Segovia but of Castilla as a whole. Take a look at the botijos, for storing fresh water.

Get out

Near the Plaza del Azoguejo you will find a number of nice bars.