El Parador May 1

This afternoon we drove to the Parador where we were able to see the 3 main monuments of the city all at once: the aqueduct, the cathedral and the alcazar. Meanwhile Kristen enjoyed lunch and a long chat with her señora and friends back in the city. Paradores are hotel/restaurants/cafes run by the government. They are usually in historic buildings, but this one is not. We enjoyed the view from the hotel patio.

La Alameda

Thursday afternoon we followed the long pathway on the outside of the medieval wall that surrounds the city. We entered at the Puerta de San Andres and continued until the Casa de la Moneda where we stopped for a refreshment. Then we continued the path that took us to San Lorenzo and eventually back to the city at the aqueduct. This means we walked 2 very pretty miles, most of which ran parallel to the Eresma River. We came across a field from which we could see the Alcazar at its best. There were ducks in the river, a few men fishing at the river banks, and even some rock climbers. It was a delightful stroll on a beautiful afternoon.

More Alcazar

Alcazar

We visited the Alcazar today, which is a fortress that was built in the 12th Century. It also housed visiting royalty, and was the first of a network of castle/fortresses built throughout Spain. This is where the Catholic Kings (Isabel & Fernando) signed the contract that united Spain. The main tower, called el torre de Juan II was used as a dungeon. We climbed the 152 steps to the top! Josh struggled with the low archways. The Alcazar was built on the Roman foundation of a much more modest fortress. This was a favorite spot of Enrique IV, king of Spain, 1454-1474, and half brother of Isabel la Catolica.

 In the 19th century the aqueduct suffered a fire and lost its original furniture, wooden ceilings (gold leaf and polychrome), and all the artwork except for a painting of the Magi. In the 20th century it inspired Cinderella's Castle created by Walt Disney.

More Aqueduct

Do you even lift?

1. How many arches are there in this aqueduct?

2. In the city of Segovia, what's the aqueduct's tallest point?

3. What's the name of the main square next to the aqueduct?

4. What are the two types of arches used in the aqueduct?

5. How can you tell the difference?

Bonus: What two fast food restaurants adjoin and sit near the aqueduct?

Answers:

1. 167   2. 28.5 meters    3. Azoguejo   4. Gothic & Roman   5. The curve on the Gothic is more pointed and on the Roman it's more curved

El Acueducto de Segovia

Hiere we are at the beginning of the aqueduct as it enters the historic part of Segovia. We're sitting in front of the building that would purify the water. This aqueduct was used to carry water from the Guadarrama mountains to the city of Segovia during Roman times up until the 1800s. It is no longer used, but it could function if need be. From the mountains into Segovia the aqueduct declines at 1% grade.