I began my exploration of the Castile and León region in Segovia. The city sits on a hill, which was once very useful for defense and now affords tourists stunning views of the surrounding area. Segovia was founded in 80 BC by the Romans, who left the city its main landmark—a magnificent, perfectly preserved aqueduct. From the 8th to the 11th centuries, the city was occupied by the Moors, after which it was recaptured by the Castilian King Alfonso VI, and for the next couple of centuries, it served as a royal residence. In 1474, the legendary Isabella I of Castile, famous for the Reconquista she and her husband, Ferdinand of Aragon, led, leading to the final defeat of the Moors in Spain, was proclaimed queen here. In the 1980s, Segovia was rightfully included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
I traveled to Segovia from Madrid on a Sepulvedana bus departing from Principe Pio station. Tickets are easiest to buy there, either at the ticket office or from the ticket machines. Theoretically, you can buy tickets through the company's website, but I wasn't able to. The ride to Segovia is about an hour, but the time flies by, as the buses have Wi-Fi.
Arriving at Segovia's bus station, located on the edge of the historic center, I leisurely strolled down Calle Fernández Ladreda toward the aqueduct. Along the way, I passed charming churches, such as San Millán.
and San Clemente,
soon after which the aqueduct appeared.
The Roman aqueduct of Segovia was built in the first century CE and is the longest surviving aqueduct in Europe. It is 728 meters long and 28 meters high. It contains 166 arches and over 20,000 stone blocks, and the Romans did not use mortar. During the morning, it casts bizarre shadows, making the Plaza de Azoguejo resemble a zebra crossing:
Here, in the square, is the main tourist checkpoint, where you can get a map and all sorts of information about the city.
Despite the growing midday heat and disregarding the proverbs, I courageously walked up the mountain 🙂
Behind me, another excellent view of the beautiful aqueduct opened up.
San Juan Street turned the corner where the old Cadenas mansion was located.
A couple of blocks to the north there is a small church with the resonant name of San Juan de los Caballeros.
Walking along San Agustin Street, I came to the Santa Trinidad Church.
Opposite the church is the Bishopric of Segovia.
The streets of the old town here are very picturesque, you can feel the effect of a time machine.
Soon I came to the Church of San Esteban, impressive in size, but not very impressive in appearance.
Opposite the church is the Bishop's Palace and Museum.
Behind the museum the cathedral was already visible, and I headed towards it along a narrow street.
Finally, I reached the cathedral. The scaffolding spoiled the view somewhat, but the cathedral's scale offset this effect.
Construction of the cathedral began in the early 15th century, but it wasn't consecrated until the second half of the 18th. The cathedral's dimensions are impressive—150 meters long, 50 meters wide, and 33 meters high, with an 88-meter tower.
The interior of the three-aisled cathedral is quite traditional, yet very elegant. It's worth a visit.
Source: travel.ru