Segovia from Madrid: tips to discover the city in one day
There are many places that you can visit in one day from the Spanish capital. But if there is one that you can’t miss, that is Segovia! The Aqueduct, the Alcázar and the Cathedral of Segovia are imposing monuments that give this city a noble air. In this week’s post, The Touring Pandas have collected some tips to tell you how to discover the beautiful Segovia from Madrid. Keep reading and get ready to marvel at one of the most incredible places in our country!
Segovia from Madrid: how to get there
The trains to Segovia depart from the Chamartin station, which is connected with Metro lines 1 and 10. Once at the station, the trains leave approximately every 20 minutes from 6:40am. The duration of the trip is 27 minutes and the average cost of the ticket is 19€. You can buy your tickets at the station or via web on the national railway company, Renfe. The trains return from Segovia also very frequently until 10:14pm. The Segovia train station is far from the city center, so you’ll have to take a taxi or bus line 11. You will know where to jump of the train immediately: the stop is right in front of the Aqueduct!
It’s hard to imagine a more impressive welcome to a city than the Aqueduct of Segovia. This impressive monument from Roman times is the border between the new and the old cities. Its 167 arches draw a line that crosses the Plaza del Azoguejo from end to end. Its stones, pressed against each other to sustain the structure, have been there for over two-thousand years. For more than to millennia, the habitants of Segovia have walked down this majestic doors that once were used to transport water from the mountains to the city. Once you’re down the bus, stop some minutes to take in this breathtaking views, and then get ready to enter this fairy-tale town that UNESCO declared World Heritage.
Old town and Cathedral of Segovia
The old town of Segovia, as many other medieval cities, has a privileged location on top of a hill. The reason why these towns have similar setting is that it worked as a natural defensive technique against outsiders and invaders. The height provided by the slopes, combined with the walls, protected the cities against foreign attacks. Thus, the old town of Segovia is a labyrinth of narrow streets and picturesque houses that won’t fail to conquer you: get your camera ready because it’s full of selfie spots! At the highest location, the Cathedral of Saint Frutos is a Renaissance building with an impressive bell tower. If you dare to clim up the 189 steps, you’ll get privileged views of the city and its surroundings. Once downstairs, you may look for a place to eat cochinillo, the specialty of Segovia, to win back your strength!
Antonio Machado House-Museum
If you like hidden gems, there’s a lovely spot in Segovia that will win your heart: the Antonio Machado House-Museum. Just a few minutes walk from the Cathedral, there is an old hostel that served as residence for one of Spain’s most beloved poets. Antonio Machado lived in this old guesthouse that can be visited with an audio guide for as little as 2,5€. The stoves, the cracky wooden steps and the old furniture remain intact. You can even see his room exactly as he left it when he moved to Barcelona. When the Spanish Civil War started, intellectuals that supported the Republican army had to seek refugee in safe places. Machado lived in Barcelona for two years, but when the National Army started gaining territory, ha had to flee again, this time to France. By then, Antonio Machado had contracted tuberculosis, and he died exiled in Colliure, just two days after crossing the French border.
The Alcázar of Segovia
If the Aqueduct is the entrance door to Segovia, the Alcazar is the backdoor. This imposing palace was once the residence of the King and Queen of Castille. It’s most impressive feature is its shape: like the prow of a ship, it has a majestic structure that gives the impression that the whole city is floating over a sea of trees. Before it was turned into a palace, it was a fortress. And prior to that, a Roman fort that served to defend the city in the times of Hadrianus. The Alcázar can also be visited and from its multiple windows you can admire the Valley of Eresma. After exploring it, we recommend you to take some time to go outside the wall and explore the green area surrounding Segovia. From downhill, you’ll be able to appreciate its majestic silhouette against the blue skies.
Are you looking forward to visiting Segovia? Do you think this post was useful? If you have any doubts or questions, leave us a comment and we will get back to you very soon!
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