Hurrah, it is finally time for my absolute favourite destination of all time. In case you haven't read my previous posts this is how it stands:
10. Krakow and Warsaw ( a cheeky joint entry!)
9. Monaco
8. Ireland ( includes Cork, Connemara and Dublin)
7. Granada
6.Gibraltar
5. Bruges
4. London
3. Oslo
2. Berlin
And my number one or número uno is......
SEGOVIA!
For those who are unfamiliar with it, it is situated just over an hour from Madrid in the region of Castilla y León. This historic and picturesque city will not leave you unimpressed. It is no surprise that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. I have been a handful of times and will definitely be back!
Attractions:
Segovia is a relatively small town which you could visit in one day trip. I recommend staying 2 days though in order to get a real feel for the place. There are many good hostels that are relatively cheap and all central.
1. The Viaduct is situated right in the centre of the city and you literally can't miss it. This magnificent feat of civil engineering was used in Roman times to transport water across the top. I am always amazed by how they managed to build such structures without the help of modern machinery. There are stairs at the side which take you to the top from where you get wonderful views of the city. Or you could sit at one of the cafés in Azoguejo Square, situated right next to the viaduct. I assume that it was built for its practical uses without taking into account the aesthetics and yet it really is a beautiful landmark.
2. The Alcázar is a Castle dating from the 12th Century and has been used for many other purposes over the years. It was one of the inspirations for the Castle in Cinderella. It is located on a rocky crag and has wonderful views over the city. If you decide to visit the inside, you won't be disappointed. It is not overpriced and indeed they offer different prices depending on what you want to visit. To see the full thing it is €7 which is excellent value for money.
Source of photo: http://free-stock-illustration.com/alcazar+de+segovia+pics
3. The Catedral de Segovia is situated next to the main square and dates from the Gothic period. Entry costs €3 and a further €2 if you want to visit the Tower. If you are interested in religious buildings, then it is definitely worth a visit. For me, it is most striking on the outside and although I have visited the inside of it, it certainly didn't interest me enough to visit the inside again in subsequent visits.
I always judge a place by the atmosphere, rather than the amount of touristy things to do. Indeed, it may be why I like Segovia so much because it has a relaxed atmosphere, you can take your time seeing the attractions but you also have time for wandering the streets and sitting in an outdoor café people watching and soaking up the sun.
With trips to New York, Washington and New Zealand in the planning stages it may not stay my favourite for long. Sometimes you associate a place with happy memories, for me that place will always be Segovia.
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