One of the most striking Roman treasures in Europe can be found here. This dual treasure consists of an amazingly preserved aqueduct, left by the Romans as a symbol of their greatness, fairytale castle, standing high up on the hilltop, the Alcázar. 2000 year old Segovia defies time and carries its history into the future, a history that a myriad of tourists come to see and admire each day.

Segovia's historic centre begins with the aqueduct leading us through its beautiful cobble streets surrounded by protective walls and fortified turrets. It has the same name as the province of which it is capital, being only 90km from Madrid and 12km from the Sierra de Guadarrama.

The city's well-preserved medieval structure was one of the arguments put forward in order to obtain the World Heritage title which it recieved in 1985.

Conquered by the Romans in the 1st century, it became a military emporium and the admiration of the whole empire. Following the Fall of Rome it was besieged by Barbarians until the Moors came along. With Alfonso 6th, the Christian monarch of Castilla, it obtained political power and became an important economic power due to its quality livestock and cloth industry. At this time most of its Romanesque monuments were built, leading it to now outnumber any other European city in terms of this kind of construction. The city has been marked by 3 different cultures. Christians, Jews and Muslims left their mark in Segovia's narrow streets and influenced its traditional architecture. This is clearly seen in the Paseo del Azoguejo (avenue), which for centuries was the main square, trade crossroads, meeting point for social gatherings and centre for inter-trade dealings.

The Roman aqueduct that is and will forever be a symbol of the city and Western culture. This 2000-year-old monument is one of the greatest pieces of work left by the Romans. But according to legend, it came about due to laziness and had nothing to do with Rome. The legend that everybody knows is about a young woman who, tired from carrying water through the streets, made a pact with the devil, swearing to sell her soul if the water arrived at her doorstep before the cock crowed the following morning. The devil thought this a fair deal and began work immediately. However, at cockcrow the following morning, there was one stone left out of place. His efforts that night had been in vain because he lost the young girl's soul. The construction, which is considered one of the best examples of civil engineering in Spain, was designed to send water from the Río Acebeda (river) to the top of the city. 166 granite arches and 20,400 stone blocks hold up this almost 15km-long aqueduct. Oddly, the stones are not joined together by anything but manage to keep their balance due to a system of force and gravity.

Segovia is such an aqueduct and much more. It must also not forget the Calle Real, a pedestrian street leading to the Plaza Mayor. It is the main connecting street in the city, displaying an array of striking architecture from the late 16th and early 17th centuries to the 20th century. A short way away is the Mirador de la Canaleja (balcony), the Casa de los Picos (house named after the peak-shaped bosses decorating its façade), the Palacio de los del Río, the Palacio de los Torreagero, the Palacio del Conde de Alpuente, the Alhóndiga building and the nearby Plaza de Medina del Campo.

The latter wide open space adorned up with elegant buildings, brings to mind the Italian plazas. Neither is the Plaza Mayor to be missed. The heart of the city, it is dominated by the pinnacled eastern end of the Cathedral. This beautiful building is an example of the late Gothic style and once staged theatre performances in Segovia in front of the Patio del Hospital de la Misericordia (courtyard) or at the more recent Teatro Juan Bravo (theatre) which now stages such performances. The Cathedral is known as the ?Dama de las Catedrales?,(Lady of Cathedrals) due to its elegance and slenderness.

Another important place of interest in Segovia is the Alcázar, crowning the city, with the Río Eresma and Río Clamores (rivers) on either side. It is a typical castle described in a fairytale and it only takes imagination to transform it into the scene of a legend. In the 12th century it became home to the Royal Family, witnessing historical events such as Queen Isabel the Catholic Monarch leaving the castle on the day of her coronation as Queen of Castilla in 1474.

The barrios segovianos deserve a special mention. These districts have kept their original charm. Examples include the Barrio de las Canonjías (which preserves its beautiful Romanesque houses), Barrio de los Caballeros (past residence of noble families in Segovia), Barrio de la Judería (or Jewish Quarter, preserving its beautiful synagogues).The outlying areas such as San Millán, Santa Eulalia, San Lorenzo, La Alameda, San Marcos-La Fuencisla are also worth a visit. The Romanesque style is to be seen in many places throughout Segovia. Some of the churches which should be included in any visit are the Iglesia de San Martín, San Justo, San Clemente, San Andrés, San Esteban and San Millán.

El Alcazar:
Thought to have been built on the site of a previous important fortress, since the aqueduct water pipes end in the Álcazar.

The first Tower of Homage, probably built in the time of Alfonso X, is rectangular and reminiscent of some French military structures of the 13th century.

The new Tower, incorrectly attributed to Juan II, was erected between 1440 and 1465. it is probably one of the earliest examples of the ornamental use of a different kind of look-out posts.

A new corridor was added in 1412 containing the Galera room (with an interesting Mudejar coffering) also called Room of the Ambassadors.
In 1452 the Sala de las Piñas, the king's study, was built and the Crown Room was finished.
As of 1590, in accordance with the projects by Francisco de Mora, the building was reformed: the towers and rooms were covered with spires, and the roofs with slate.
The Kings Room was completed in 1596 with statues of all the monarchs.

the first fire of 1681 destroyed the top of the old tower of homage. The fire of 1862 led to a complete restoration with the aid of existing drawings.
Restoration works were started in 1882 by Joaquín Odriozola y Antonio Bermejo.

The Trastámaras built this majestic 15th-century castle-palace, subsequently reformed with French and Italian influences, on a fortified location consecutively used by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Arabs and the Christians.

Isabel left the castle in 1474 to be crowned Queen of Castile.
Felipe II lived in the Alcázar de Segovia, and was responsible for the last transformation of the building in the late 16th century.
Carlos III established the Royal Academy of Artillery in the premises. It was destroyed by the fire of 1862.
It was rebuilt in 1882, becoming the General Military Archive and, later on, an Artillery Academy and a Museum.

Nicolás de Holanda, of Toledo, is responsible for the stained glass windows, later accompanied by the glass works of Chiberri, Gualterio de Ronch, and Pierre de Holanda.

There are seven radial Gothic chapels attached to the back of the presbytery. One of the most beautiful is the Capilla del Sagrario, with groin vaults and a classical front.

Also noteworthy is the wide variety of altarpieces and the beautiful Capilla del Santísimo Sacramento. Manuel Pereira is responsible for the Cristo de Lozoya, so called because it once belonged to the Marquis of Lozoya, who donated it to the cathedral in 1895.

Inside the Capilla de la Piedad stands the Retablo del Santo Entierro (Altarpiece of the Holy Burial), a important realistic work by Juan de Juni. The retrochoir has lateral structures designed by Juan de Villanueva and completed by Ventura Rodríguez. The pulpit, made of marble of different colours, was made in the 17th century and came from the Convento de San Francisco in Cuéllar.

The cloister came from the old cathedral and has an interior garden and delicate windows. The monumental organ, with its golden structure and Baroque decoration, dates from the 18th century; the seats were built thanks to the generous financial contribution of the patron of the arts and bishop of the Diocese, Juan Arias Ávila.

The Flemish series of "Los Honores", the "Historia de Ciro el Grande", "Los Triunfos de Petrarca" and "San Jerónimo en oración", are particularly impressive.

TAPESTRIES, include works by Van Orley, known as Honores and Virtudes, inspired by paintings by Goya and painted glass by Luca Giordano, from the end of the seventeenth century.

Neo-classical urban structure with open spaces and landscaped gardens.
Its main facade was inspired by the architects Juvara and Bautista Sachetti.
Treasury of lamps, furniture and paintings. Its bronze lamps and glass come from the Real Fábrica de Vidrio de la Granja.
The ROYAL GARDENS create an elegant, Baroque scene, with a rich variety of plants and fountains.
FOUNTAINS dramatising tales, poems and mythological characters.
All the fountains can be classified as astistic monuments, including the fountain of Andrómeda, Carrera de Caballos, Apolo, and the Baños de Diana.
The old quarter of the Guardias de Corps and the Reales Caballerizas, and next to these, the Casas de Oficios, de Infantes and de Canónigos.

These gardens and fountains were inaugurated after its restoration on the 15 June, 1998 by the Reina S.M. Doña Sofía.
It is normally open to the public on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and is situated behind the wood of the Fuente de la Fama. It is accessed from the doorway known as Partida de la Reina which separates it from the other gardens in the Palacio Real.

It consists of 3000 square metres of planting ground for medicinal plants such as sage, cabbage, onions, box, thyme, mint, tabacco, rosemary...situated next to an old Jeronimite hermitage. The garden and hermitage date from the fifteenth century, during which time there were more than 300 species which served as the pharmacy of the Casa Real.
Now around 100 species have been planted which have been commonly used since the Middle Ages.

*WORKING OF THE FOUNTAINS*
Eight fountains are switched on at the same time during three days of the year:
30 May: San Fernando
25 July: Santiago
25 August: San Luis

The fountains are open for 5 or 6 minutes, and the display lasts for approximately an hour.
Four fountains are activated (alternate each week)
The order in which they are activated is as follows:
1. Carrera de Caballos
2. Cascada Nueva
3. Los Vientos.
4. El Canastillo.
5. Las Ocho Calles.
6. Las Ranas.
7. Los Baños de Diana.
8. La Fama.

At its highest point in the Plaza del Azoguejo it is 28 metres high.
There are two vaulted niches that pagan gods used to occupy. They were substituted by images of Saint Sebastian and the Virgin Mary.
The first section goes from el Riofrío or La Acebeda to the first silt basin.

THE ACUEDUCTO DE SEGOVIA CIUDAD:
Leaving the La Granja road it continues on to the Casa de Piedra, a silt basin that got rid of the impurities n the water and regulated the volume, from the 15th and 16th centuries.

ACUEDUCTO DE SAN ANTONIO EL REAL:
This is where the first exit channels that leave the main canal begin to be visible.
Continuing along by the wall is the second silt basin, with Roman stones. This is the start of the one-level arcade.

EL AZOGUEJO:
In the Plaza del Azoguejo the aqueduct is at its highest. Here are the two vaulted niches, one of which has an image of the Virgin and the marks of the inscriptions of the bronze letters on the consoles. They have not been completely deciphered.

EL POSTIGO DEL CONSUELO:
The design as a whole and a superb view of the city can be had from here.

LA PLAZA DE LAS ARQUETAS:
Beneath the square various traces of water distribution have been found. The canal carries on to the Plaza de los Huertos and the Plaza Mayor.

EL DESARENADOR DE LA PLAZA MAYOR:
A recently discovered gallery that the main canal of the aqueduct runs along.

It was not long before the girl began to regret her actions. She was so frightened that she prayed to the Lord all night. Such was her devotion that God made the sun rise earlier the next morning and the devil was unable to finish his great work. Only one stone remained to be placed when the first of the sun's rays lit up the city. Thus, the young girl had saved her soul and since that day did not mind at all going to the spring to fetch water.

Production of cochinillo in Segovia is centred on the districts of Cuéllar and Santa María La Real de Nieva, although it can also be found in other villages of the province.

As a general rule, the suckling pigs are killed when three weeks old, at a weight of between 5 and 7 kg. This means that the meat is tender and has a very thin layer of white fat.

The key to the success of this dish also lies in the roasting - on an earthenware platter in a wood-fired oven - with each chef or asador (master roaster) giving his personal touch to the dish.

The ceremony of carving the cochinillo has become a ritual in many restaurants of the province. This consists of cutting the meat with the edge of a plate, in front of the diners, to demonstrate that it has been roasted to perfection, with a crispy skin and tender meat on the inside.

Besides eating it in a restaurant, you can also buy cochinillo in many of the butchers' shops of the province, and beyond.

The "asadores" (roasting houses) of Segovia have become “gastronomic shrines” to the cochinillo and have helped to project its fame onto an international plane.

To prepare this dish you make a stew of beans, garlic, bay, onion, pig's tail and ear, chorizo, jamón, panceta (belly pork), oil, water and salt. You place all the ingredients in the pot with the beans and leave it cook for 3/4 of an hour. Once cooked, you add a sauté of onion, flour, oil, paprika and garlic and leave to boil together for another 1/2 hour. After this, the beans are ready to serve.