Spain - Segovia - Possibly the Prettiest City

Having exhausted the main sights of Madrid, including a stop by the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple moved here stone by stone from Aswan in the 1970s, and a second tour of the Reina Sofia (which turns to have an entire annex building I didn't see the first time around!), it was time to freshen things up and take a day tour.

Number one on my must do day trips from Madrid was Segovia. It's about an hour by bus, and twice as pretty as Toledo with half the hills and half the tourists. Segovia was absolutely lovely. I convinced fellow hosteller Lynn from Adelaide, Australia to join me for the day and she was more than happy with her choice. The whole of the historic quarter is walkable in two hours and is positively enchanting.



Segovia is perhaps best known for its acueducto, a Roman aqueduct built in the 1st century AD over 14,000m long that used to run water from the source all the way to the Alcazar of Segovia (local palace, greatly resembles fairy tale castles, including shiny turrets, majestic ramparts, deep moat and sweeping vistas of the countryside).



The aqueduct was entrancing - it's massive at over 27m high at some points, with arches galore and it winds through the whole town. Very impressive and thanks to careful restoration work, in perfect shape and condition.



We walked its length through the town right to where it first comes above ground near the bus station. Such a small beginning for what turns into a colossal piece of architecture and engineering.



Other highlights on the must-see list are the requisite massive cathedral in the Plaza Mayor and of course the Alcazar.



We also greatly enjoyed walking the outskirts of the old town where the views of the mountainous countryside and the aqueduct were great. Aside from the official sights, Segovia is lovely just to wander around with lots of lantern-lit alleys and hanging plants on the storeys of balconies overhead. Toledo was cool in its fortress-like atmosphere; Segovia is the fairytale European city everyone is looking for to spend an afternoon strolling around. So glad I made it here!