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

Get in

View of Segovia from the Alcázar.

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 Moncloa 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 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. The train ride from Madrid is beautiful. Look out for the bulls!

Get around

The walled Old Town is easily accessible on foot. There is a tourism office at the foot of the Roman Aqueduct and a travel office on the Plaza Mayor.

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 Romanesque, 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 for scenes from the Orson Welles film Chimes at Midnight, which were filmed on its premises. Entry €6.
Segovia Aqueduct
  • Aqueduct was probably built around 50AD to supply water to the Roman military fort on the hill, and is one of the best preserved in the world. It was built without cement, and still runs for over a mile from the old town through the modern suburbs. It rises to a great height just outside the old town where it crosses a valley. To appreciate it best, walk up into the newer town and look down it to the old town.
  • City walls - Solid city walls that isolate the old town from modern life, keeping out all but a few cars. Outside the walls is a city park that provides great views.
  • 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 of the Cathedral started in 1525 and completed in 1768. Visiting hours Nov-Mar 9AM-5:30PM, Apr-Oct 9AM-6:30PM. Entry €3 (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, +34 921 460 613-15, . Visiting hours Su 10AM-2PM; Tu-Sa 10AM-2PM and either 4PM-7PM (Oct-Jun) or 5PM-8PM (Jul-Sep). C/ Socorro 11, The Museum of Segovia contains artifacts, models, and art related to the history, culture, lifestyle, etc of the city and the surrounding region. Entry €1.20.
  • Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso Is an 18th century palace in the small town of San Ildefonso located 13km from the city, formerly the summer residence of the Kings of Spain since the reign of Philip V. The palace is in a restrained baroque style surrounded by extensive gardens in the French manner and sculptural fountains. Extending over 1,500 acres, the gardens around the palace are one of the best examples of 18th-century European garden design.

Do

Casa de los Picos (15th century)

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.

Eat

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

  • Slow roasted suckling pig - cochinillo. To demonstrate the pig's tenderness, it is often cut with a plate, as depicted in a local statue.
  • 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, Azoguejo, 5, +34 921 425 911. One of the most famous mesones.
  • Restaurante Jose Maria, Cronista Lecea, 11 (near Plaza Mayor), +34 921 461 111. 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.
  • El Sitio, Calle de la Infanta Isabel, 9, +34 921 46 09 96. Great tapas bar downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. At the tapas bar you get tapas with each drink you order.

You will find also another kind of restaurants:

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.
  • La Postal, C/ Sacramento, 22, Zamarramala (1km outside of Segovia), +34 921 12 03 29. Views of Segovia and great food & drink.

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. 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 whisky distillery. The 10 year old whisky has a good reputation among the local population.

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

Sleep

  • The SotoPalacio Hostal C/ Segovia, 15 - 40154 Madrona. SotoPalacio is a familiar and very comfortable Hostal that count on a total of 12 rooms.
  • Hostal-Bar Plaza, +34 921 46 03 03. C/Cronista Lecea 11. Just off the main square, they have clean, comfortable rooms, nearly hotel quality.

Go next

This city travel guide to Segovia is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.