|
|
|
Tour Information
SEGOVIA
Having been a trading centre under the
Roman Empire, Segovia reached its period of greatest splendour
during the Middle Ages, on becoming the court residence of the
Trastamaras, as well as an important centre of livestock and
textile activity.
The tour will begin in the Roman aqueduct in Azoguejo square,
serves as the main entrance to the historic quarter of Segovia.
This engineering gem, built under the Roman Empire (1st century
AD), carried water to the elevated city from some 15 Km away.
Its 163 arches and its height, some 29 m at its higest point,
are supported by blocks of stone from the Sierra de Guadarrama
mountains that are completely plaster, lead and mortar free.
 |
 |
|
The city that is concealed behind the
walls reveals some important Medieval and Renaissance buildings
to us, such as Casa de los Picos house, the Alhóndiga corn
exchange and the Torreón de Los Lozoya tower. The first of
these, dating from the 15th century, has a façade decorated in
granite points and is currently home to the School of Applied
Arts and Crafts. The Alhóndiga, the old Gothic corn exchange,
and the Tower, originally a 14th century defensive structure,
are now used to hold cultural exhibitions.
A stone's throw from the arched Plaza Mayor we come across one
of the last Gothic buildings built in España, the Cathedral.
Building began on it in the 16th century, during the late Gothic
period. Some parts of the old cathedral, such as its flamboyant
Gothic cloister, the choir stalls and the main façade are worthy
of special attention. The San Frutos door, the apse, the main
altarpiece (the Baroque-style work of Sabatini) and the
Neo-classical area behind the choir, the work of Ventura
Rodríguez, are more recent features. The smaller chapels house
sculptures by Juan de Juni and Gregoria Fernández. Names,
indeed, that are asssociated with some of the great Spanish
Baroque and Neo-classical works.
At one end of this walled enclosure you
can see the outline of the Alcázar Fortress, monument which will
be visited, behind the Queen Victoria Eugenia Gardens (this is
the spot where the old cathedral stood). The exterior of the
fortress as a whole makes quite an impact on the visitor given
its 80 m high tower, its other twelve turrets and its defensive
moat. Several courtyards and buildings can be visited, and it is
even possible to climb the battlement tower and admire a
panoramic view of the Segovian landscape from this marvellous
vantage point.
Lying between the confluence of the river Eresma and the river
Clamores, the first documented record of the fortress dates back
to Christian writings in the 12th century It was built on top of
a rock, that is testament to its military status.
It also served as a residence for Alfonso
VIII and this was the place where the Catholic Isabella was
proclaimed Queen of Castile. In the thirteenth century the
building took on an air of Gothic elegance thanks to the work of
the Spanish architects, John II and Henry IV. The last
architectural phase was done in 1587 by the architect Francisco
de Mora, possibly in collaboration with Juan de Herrera, who did
the Main Courtyard and the Honour School. In 1764, Charles II
founded the Royal College of Artillery here. The edifice has a
number of secret passageways that lead to the river and connect
several of the city's palaces together.
The Tour will be followed by a Dinner at
Mesón de Cándido.
Back
|
|
