On Saturday, November 12th, we took a day-trip from Madrid to a beautiful little town called Segovia. This would require a walk to the nearest metro station, two metro rides to the train station, a high-speed train to Segovia, and a bus ride into town. Fortunately, with Rick Steve’s Spain guidebook providing the details, we pulled it off without a hitch. Bus #11 deposited us directly beneath the most impressive, ancient Roman aqueduct. Segovia served as a Roman Military base and needed water. Therefore, Trajan’s men built a nine-mile aqueduct, bringing water from the Rio Frío to the city. We admired the 100-foot high, 2,000 year-old exposed section with 118 arches and made from 20,000 granite blocks without any mortar. It was truly impressive.
On Bus #11 to the town of Segovia from the train station
The Amazing 2000 year-old Roman Aqueduct
Birthday girls beneath the aqueduct.
Me and mi esposa at the aqueduct
A rare photo of our entire entourage. 🙂
From atop the aqueduct
We then walked up the quaint streets of the city to the Cathedral, which was built in Renaissance times (1525-1768). This was Spain’s last Gothic church and is characterized by an abundance of pinnacles rising into the air and flying buttresses for support. It is an excellent example of the over-the-top Flamboyant Gothic style. Its interior is spacious and simple, and the nave and apse are ringed with numerous 16th-century chapels.
The interior of a small Romanesque church I visited while walking through town. Mass is underway.
La Menina!
The Segovia Cathedral
Christy and I in the square in front of the Cathedral
Stained glass display in the Cathedral
In the Choir of the Cathedral
Love these vaults!
The altarpiece in one of the side chapels
Interesting painting in a side chapel: Earthly sinners living it up while ignoring God in the tree top. Satan is about to strike the final blow to the tree causing all to crash to their destruction. All the while, Jesus is ringing the bell attempting to get their attention.
Looking down one of the aisles
Frilly pinnacles and gargolyes
The third main sight in Segovia is the Alcázar. In the middle ages, this fortified palace served as a key fortress for controlling the region by the monarchs of Castile. After it served as a palace, it functioned as a prison for 200 years, and then a Royal Artillery School. It served as one of the inspirations for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
The Disney-esque Alcazar of Segovia
The throne room of the castle
The Hall of the Monarchs, lined with the busts of 22 rulers of Castile and León who presided during the Reconquista
The castle chapel
In the armory of the Alcazar
On one of the terraces of the Alcazar
A view from the Alcazar
Girls flirting with the tin man in the armory
I climbed the main tower all the way to the top which offered a grand view of the entire town of Segovia
The Cathedral from atop the tower of the Alcazar
Countryside surrounding Segovia
On our way back to the bus stop, we stopped at the oldest eatery in Segovia, the Restaurant Duque, open since 1895. One of the signature dishes of this part of Spain is the roast suckling pig. The little fellow has 21 days of its mother’s milk, goes into the oven, and onto the plate. I, of course, had to try it. It was moist and succulent. It’s not something I would frequently want to eat, but it was quite good. After dinner, we walked back down to the aqueduct, reversed our travel experience to arrive back at the hotel before 9 p.m.
On the walk back through town. I love these arched bridges over the roadway (Yes, this is a roadway.)
Another view as we walk back.
Sitting in the Plaza Mayor
An excellent street entertainer.
The Restaurant Duque
Ready for Roast Suckling Pig
My escorts in Spain
Peering upward at a high arch of the aqueduct
The aqueduct at dusk
What a fun, exhausting day we had! Loved it! (& you & Cindy for enabling me to experience it!)❤️️
Glad you’re with us!
Is Cindy the only one behaving in Spain!!! Christy is flirting and Barry!!! The baby pig!!!!!!
Mmmm! Baby pig! Haha.