Segovia

Segovia is a town of 52,000 people (2018) in Castile and Leon. The city is famous for its historic buildings including three main landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct, its cathedral (one of the last ones to be built in Europe following a Gothic style), and the castle, which served as one of the templates for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. The city centre of Segovia was declared a in 1985.

Understand
The economy of Segovia revolves around metallurgy, agriculture, furniture, construction and, particularly, tourism. The town plays host to thousands of day-visitors from Madrid each year due to its popular attractions.

Get in
Segovia has two railway stations, both to the south of the city.
 * High-speed AVE trains use the new, 5 km away. These take 30 min to Madrid Chamartin and 40 min to Valladolid, fare €15 one-way. They run every hour or so, more often for commuters mornings into Madrid and evenings coming out. The AVE station has frequent buses to the centre (€2): Bus 11 to Plaza Artilleria beneath the Aqueduct, and Bus 12 to the main bus station, both every 20 min.


 * is only 1 km from the centre, but nowadays has only two trains per day. These are regional trains taking two hours from Madrid Atocha, via Chamartin and Cercedilla, fare €9 one-way. Bus 8 runs past the railway station to town centre.

Buses between Segovia and Madrid (Moncloa bus station) run once or twice an hour, taking one hour, fare €10. Buses also run to Avila (one hour) and Salamanca (3 hr 30 min). The bus operator is La Sepulvedana. is on Paseo de Ezequiel Gonzalez, 300 m south of the Aqueduct.

The nearest airport is Madrid Barajas, 100 km south - change at Chamartin between Metro and mainline trains.

Get around
The walled Old Town is easily accessible on foot. Most of it is pedestrianised, and no traffic passes beneath the Aqueduct, which thus divides the city. At the foot of the Aqueduct east side in Plaza Artilleria is an underground parking lot (€2/hr). Bus 9 starts from here to make a circuit of Old Town, daily every 30 min from 11:00 to 19:30, fare €1. West side in Plaza del Azoguejo is a Tourist Information Centre, with another in Plaza Mayor.

See

 * The easiest way into the walled Old Town from Plaza del Azoguejo is to walk up Calle Cervantes. Halfway up, note Casa de los Picos ("The House of the Points"), a 15th-century mansion with a facade studded with granite pyramids.
 * The easiest way into the walled Old Town from Plaza del Azoguejo is to walk up Calle Cervantes. Halfway up, note Casa de los Picos ("The House of the Points"), a 15th-century mansion with a facade studded with granite pyramids.

Do
Ski: Two small resorts in the hills nearby are and.

Buy
You can buy nice pottery, typical not only of Segovia but of Castile as a whole. Take a look at the botijos, for storing fresh water.

Eat
Segovia cuisine is typical of Castille. Favourites are slow-roast suckling pig (cochinillo), roast lamb, veal & beef, sausages, fish (notably verdel, smoked mackerel), judiones bean stew, and salads. For afters, typical desserts are ponche segoviano and natillas.

Budget & quick eats:
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.

Mid-range & splurge:



Out of town:
 * The Parador restaurant is excellent, see "Sleep" entry.

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 8-year-old whisky has a good reputation among the local population.

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

Go next

 * Ávila, 70 km west, is a charming walled old city. Another 100 km northwest brings you to Salamanca.
 * Old cities of Castile and Leon are Valladolid, Burgos, and Leon.
 * El Escorial is easily reached off the road south to Madrid.
 * Reaching Barcelona, the Med coast, or Andalusia will involve travelling via Madrid.