“People forget years and remember moments.” ~ Ann Beattie
Our tour through Spain began in Madrid where we parted towards Segovia, which was our first stop. Segovia is a small town located in the northwest of Spain. It is home to the monumental Segovia Aqueduct, Alcazar of Segovia Castle, Segovia Cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de San Frutos), San Miguel Parish, the Saint Martin Church (Iglesia San Martin), as well as many other Gothic style churches.
The aqueduct was one of the most impressive sights I’ve seen. It is about 2,950 feet long, 94 feet high and has about 160 arches. It was built by Romans using solid blocks with no mortar to hold them together with other than balancing force. The curiosity of how this huge monument is still standing kept us studying the aqueduct from corner to corner. It still carries water from the Frio River to the town of Segovia and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Segovia Aqueduct is a must in Spain. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
The Segovia Cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de San Frutos), is a Gothic style Catholic Cathedral in the Plaza Mayor. Its construction began in the 16th century (1525) and it was one of the last gothic style church constructions in Europe. It’s a beautiful architecture inside and out. We also visited the “Iglesia Parroquial San Miguel” and “Iglesia San Martin”
The San Miguel Parish is in Calle Infanta Isabel in the Plaza Mayor of Segovia. It was first located in the center of the plaza. But it was demolished in 1532 to enlarge the Plaza Mayor and the church was built on its current location in Calle Infanta.
The San Martin Church is a national monument and one of the most emblematic medieval temples. It stands in the heart of the tourist area in Calle Real, between the aqueduct and the cathedral.
Every now and then during our walk through Segovia and various areas in Spain, we came across an emblem of a conch shell. According to what we read, it is a sign of the routes for Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage that dates back to the 9th century with its final destination to be the “Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.” This pilgrimage is something we’d like to do.
The Alcazar Castle is at the very top of a cliff in Segovia. It was built before the early 12th century. The Alcazar Castle has served as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison, a royal school of artillery and a historical military archive. It is now a museum and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Segovia is a beautiful city with narrow streets which are lined up with local shops, restaurants, and cafés. Just walking the streets visiting the small shops and sitting outside admiring the immense aqueduct while sipping a cup of coffee or looking at the spectacular views was such a delight. We visited Segovia during the month of October, which was great because there were not too many tourists. I look forward to visiting the beautiful city of Segovia again.
Have you visited Segovia or have you done the pilgrimage El Camino de Santiago? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, is it in your bucket list? It should be.
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