In the city of Segovia, province in Castile-León, lies to the northwest of Madrid, Spain

 "I wish one time in my life I could do what other writers do. Get me a villa in Spain and go there to write a book." -– Lewis Grizzard

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(in Spain) ​The city of Segovia, capital of Segovia province in Castile-León, lies to the northwest of Madrid. The site of the medieval Alcázar palace and the famous Segovia aqueduct, the city was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985.

+ An Iberian settlement from about 700 BCE, it was captured around 80 BCE by the Romans. At the beginning of the 8th century, it was occupied by the Moors, from whom forces of the Christian king Alfonso VI recaptured it in 1079. Thereafter the city enjoyed prosperity and a position of importance in medieval Castile, serving as a royal residence during the reign of Alfonso X (the Wise) and as the site of the Spanish mint from 1586 until 1730. During the Middle Ages it had a flourishing textile industry. An outbreak of plague at the end of the 16th century ushered in a long period of decline, but the city’s fortunes revived with the railway-building era of the 19th century.

+ There are two well-differentiated areas in Segovia: an upper town encircled by ancient walls, on the narrow limestone ridge between two rivers (the Eresma and the Clamores), and a lower part outside the walls. The center of the Old Town is the Plaza Mayor, site of the 16th-century Gothic cathedral, from which streets lead into the outer suburbs. Crossing the Plaza del Azoguejo, is the Roman-built Segovia aqueduct, popularly known as El Puente, one of the best-preserved examples of its kind. It carries water 10 miles (16 km) from the Frío River to Segovia.

+ Segovia is an attractive old city with twisting alleyways, and the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe. Notable ones include those of San Esteban, San Martín, La Trinidad, San Lorenzo, and San Millán. (They are all Romanesque, and all date from the 12th century.) The 13th-century Church of Vera Cruz formerly pertained to the Knights Templars. The Romanesque Church of San Justo is known for its 12th-century paintings.

+ The Alcázar commands the city from the ledge above the river. It was the fortified palace of the kings of Castile; Isabella was crowned queen there in 1474. A royal palace built sometime around the 11th century, it is where the queen agreed to fund Christopher Columbus’ exploration of the New World. Segovia has a military academy in the former Convent of San Francisco, and it also has several museums. The city is now a service center for commerce, health, and education for the surrounding agricultural hinterland. Tourism also is important thanks to the city’s proximity to Madrid.

+ No place typifies the glory of Old Castile and León, birthplace of Queen Isabella, more than Segovia. Immerse yourself in Segovia for a week as you visit its important sites. Throughout your stay, you will learn about Spain’s history and culture, and enjoy the paseo, or leisurely evening stroll, with local residents.