Next stop,Segovia! Since my arrival in Madrid, people have been talking to me about Segovia, a quaint, architecturally magnificent and historical town located only about an hour away from Madrid. My Spanish teachers in particular have recommended that all of the foreign exchange students (ERAMUS) travel to Segovia at some point before they leave Spain. So at their suggestion, I decided to book a one day trip to Segovia with one goal in mind: to see and tour the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty! So, I along with two of my Erasmus traveling friends/buddies/companions boarded the 9am bus two weekends ago to Segovia!
Segovia is a small town like Cuenca. Like most if not all Spanish cities, Segovia has architecturally rich buildings; but Segovia is special due to its large Roman architectural influence. This city is well known for two important landmarks; the "Román Acueducto " and the "Alcázar of Segovia." The Alcázar was the castle that inspired the castle in Walt Disney’s animated and much beloved film, Sleeping Beauty.
As soon as we arrived in Segovia we immediately headed towards the Alcázar. What a castle! It was everything I had ever imagined! Just like in Sleeping Beauty, it had one especially tall tower complete with a steeple surrounded by other smaller towers and steeples and a great moat at the entrance. Inside was as extravagant as one would think! The castle has been redecorated to match what once existed. Every room was adored with lavish details. Two rooms in particular that caught my attention were the Throne room and the Arms room. In the throne room (which sadly did not photograph well because of poor lighting) the walls were decorated with huge paintings of the King and Queen of Spain ( which ones ???). and a small staircase. Atop this staircase was a red carpet with two huge plush and majestic golden chairs. Looking at the thrones, one could just envision royalty seating there. The arms room was just as impressive, covered in flags from wall to wall displaying various coat of arms and different types of armor and weapons dating back to the Middle Ages. This room also led to a terrace with an amazing view and a yes .... real wishing well. Totally awesome! Being in Sleeping Beauty's castle took me back to my childhood...a memory I will not soon forget!
After exploring the lower areas of the castle, we decided to explore the Tower of Juan II. This tower is the tallest of all the towers in the castle. It led to two separate scenic viewing areas; one area just above the moat and another at the very top of the tower. Only two flights of stairs are required to arrive at the first sightseeing landing area. As we climbed another flight, we arrived at a room with a small carved out door that was outlined with red LED lights. We thought, this must be the way to the top of the tower. So we started to climb, and climb and climb. This was no ordinary staircase. It was an old cement spiral staircase with no windows and stairs that got steeper and steeper as you continued upward. For a moment, I felt like a knight attempting to save a princess who was locked away! Finally, 152 steps later, we finally arrived at the top...to a breath-taking view of Segovia.
After touring the castle we decided to grab lunch in the plaza by the Roman Aqueduct. Per normal, I ordered the menu del dia which happened to include one of my favorites loxs as the second entree. It was delicious! (But, if you are ever in Segovia, I highly suggest you order Cuchinillo. It is a Segovian delicacy. Unfortunately I did not get to try it because I was not feeling all that well during our trip. ) After Lunch, we decided to walk along the Roman Aqueduct. This Aqueduct is the best preserved roman monument in Spain. It was used to transport water from the Fuente Fría river to a gathering tank called El Caseron. It is an impressive must-see historical monument.
Afterwards, we strolled through the Plaza Mayor to see the Cathedral. When exploring any European city going to see the cathedral of that town is a must. The cathedral was built in the 1500s in a Gothic style. It is, aside from the Alcázar, one of the most prominent buildings in Segovia. It is extremely large and elaborately detailed. After visiting the cathedral and the plaza mayor, we decided to visit Segovia’s many different gardens that outline the city. In sum, Segovia is a beautiful city with a lot to offer and an easy one day trip from Madrid.
Segovia is a beautiful city with a lot to offer! My next journey will take me to Salamanca! Until then, Chao!
Segovia is a beautiful city with a lot to offer! My next journey will take me to Salamanca! Until then, Chao!
