The beautiful city of Segovia is one of the most interesting places to visit in Spain. Living in the middle of Spain, just an hour north of Madrid, Segovia takes visitors on an interesting trip through hundreds of years of Spanish history.
The most famous thing about Segovia is a work of engineering that has been there for more than 2,000 years. It also has an old town with narrow streets made of cobblestones and twisting lanes that look like they belong in a fairy tale.
But Segovia isn’t just a city stuck in the past; it’s a lively place to visit where old customs and new cultures live together. You can enjoy the flavors of Spanish food and experience the warm welcome of the locals in its charming plazas, which are filled with lively markets and bars.
Segovia is full of famous tourist spots, beautiful architecture, and cultural activities, so there are lots of things to do there. It’s a must-see for anyone looking for a classic Spanish adventure.
Top 8 Must-See Attractions in Segovia
1. Casa de los Picos
When you first see the Casa de los Picos, you might feel like you’ve seen it before. It looks like the Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca, the Casa dos Bicos in Lisbon, and the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara.
This beautiful house from the Renaissance is known as the “House of Peaks” because of the unique outer facade made of over 600 granite blocks. The name comes from the way each block is cut into a diamond-shaped pattern that looks like a pyramid.
The beautiful Renaissance house was built starting in the 1600s, but it has features from many different architectural styles, such as Gothic ones. The building has been a private home and an inn in the past. It is now home to the School of Arts and Crafts of Segovia and a number of artistic events.
2. Real Casa de Moneda
It is clear that the Real Casa de Moneda is one of the most historically and artistically important buildings in Segovia. It is one of Spain’s best examples of industrial buildings and is close to the Alcázar Palace and the Eresma River.
This huge building was first constructed in the 1600s during the rule of King Felipe II. It was used as the Royal Mint for almost three hundred years. It was there that the famous silver eights were made, controlled, and stamped. Right now, the Aqueduct Interpretation Center and the Casa de la Moneda Museum are housed there. The second one talks about how coins are made, the past of Spanish coins, and how Spain’s economy has changed over time.
There is also a beautiful example of a Spanish Renaissance building in the Real Casa de Moneda, which has a large garden and lots of small stone details.
3. Puerta San Andres
The Puerta de San Andrés is a historic entryway that leads to Segovia’s old medieval city walls. It is known for its rich history and artistic importance.
From the entrance, you can see how the city’s defenses are set up. It is known for being made of strong stone and having many small, detailed details. There are two towers, a pointed arch, a triangular shape, and a square shape. It has irregular windows, cornices, heraldic symbols, gaps, conical battlements, and a number of carved designs.
The gate, which is on the southern side of Segovia’s walls, used to be an important way for travelers and merchants to get into the city’s busy center. Today, Puerta de San Andrés is still a well-known site and an important part of Segovia’s past. It draws tourists who like its historical value and good photo opp.
4. House of Antonio Machado
The House of Antonio Machado is a great place to visit if you want to see important literary and historical sites. A famous Spanish poet named Antonio Machado lived in this small, modest house. He was one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. From 1919 to 1932, Machado lived here as a teacher in Segovia.
There is now a museum in the house that shows the life and work of Antonio Machado. People can look through the poet’s personal items and look around the rooms where he lived and worked. They can also learn about how he came up with his ideas and about the culture at the time.
The museum also has literary events and displays all year long, making it a popular spot for people who love books.
5. Monasterio de Santa Maria del Parral
The Monasterio de Santa María del Parral is a beautiful Roman Catholic monastery that is just outside of Segovia’s walls.
The monastery has been around since the 1400s and is a beautiful example of late Gothic and Mudejar architecture. The tombs of King Henry IV of Castile and his mother, Queen María of Aragon, are in its beautiful church, which has an impressive front. The monastery is just as interesting, with a lovely cloister, a peaceful garden, and a church with lots of beautiful decorations.
Today, Cistercian monks from the Order of Saint Jerome still live in the Monasterio de Santa Mara del Parral, which has kept its holy purpose over the years. People can take tours of the monastery to enjoy its quiet atmosphere, beautiful buildings, long history, and how it works on the inside.
6. La Juderia
The Judería area in Segovia is one of the most interesting. It has a lot of history and is known for its strong Jewish roots.
This cute area, which is sometimes called the Jewish Quarter, is made up of winding, narrow streets with cobblestones, well-kept medieval buildings, and cute parks. It led to the prosperous Jewish community that lived in Segovia before the Jews were forced to leave in the 1400s.
In La Judería, you’ll find old churches like the Synagogue of El Tránsito, which has been turned into a museum about Jewish history in Spain. La Judería is a popular place for tourists and history buffs to visit. It has a unique vibe thanks to its interesting architecture and cozy alleys, and it shows the city’s mixed past.
7. Alcázar of Segovia
From most angles, the beautiful Alcázar of Segovia can be seen rising above the city. It looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. It was built on a rocky outcropping with views of the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. It is famous for the unique mix of styles it has, with Romanesque, Gothic, and Moorish elements. The towering spires and the famous “Witch’s Peak” tower are what make it stand out. You’ll want to take lots of pictures of them.
It was first built as a Roman fort and has since been a royal castle, a military school, and even the model for Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
The Hall of Kings and the Throne Room are two of the beautifully designed rooms inside the Alcázar. Its rooms are beautifully decorated, and the courtyards and Tower of John II, which has a view of the nearby scenery, are very pretty.
8. Aqueduct of Segovia
The Romans built a beautiful structure called the Aqueduct of Segovia in the middle of Segovia. This amazing piece of architecture from the first century AD shows how skilled the Romans were at building things. Amazingly, it is made up of over 25,000 granite blocks that have been stacked on top of each other without using cement. There are parts of the building that are up to 28 meters high and cover more than 800 meters in total.
The canal was built to bring water from the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, which are about 17 kilometers away, to waterfalls, public baths, and private homes in the city. It was still used as late as 1973, which is crazy.
The building’s most famous feature is its double row of arches, which have a total of 167 arches. When set against the city scenery, they make a striking sight.
