Well, this is becoming routine as I search my vault for pictures, finding gems not yet in my blog, I happened to come into several of our visits to the Alcazar of Segovia ! As this is another of my favorite cities of my dear Spain, Segovia. From an early age , I think first time was when I was 10 years old with my mother Gladys; I keep coming back over the years, then with my wife Martine , and then with the family and boys and parents and and ….lost count but each time is like the first time. There, the Alcazar of Segovia is awesome, a must to see. I like to tell you a bit more on this jewel of the magnificent Alcazar of Segovia ! Hope you enjoy as I.
I have come here by car either taken when young or myself later from Madrid. The roads are good if hilly and curvy even if now they have expressways such as the AP 6 and AP 61 but my all time favorite is the N603; from Madrid you can come on the A1. I drive around to find a parking either at 14 Paseo Ezequiel Gonzalez next to the tribunal , you walk past the statue to famous restaurant Candido by the Aqueduct (see post) and onwards to the Cathedral (see post), a nice walk indeed or the magnificent Alcazar.
The Alcazar of Segovia was erected from the 12C, thanks to the reconquest of Toledo, in 1085, by King Alfonso VI of Castile. Initially built on the remains of a Roman fortress, developments continued until the reign of Philip II in the 16C, The Alcazar of Segovia served as a state prison until 1762. It was transformed into the Royal College of ‘Artillery by King Charles III in 1764. The fortress houses the General Military Archives of Spain from 1898 to today.
Its beauty and location have made it one of the favorite residences of the Kings of Castile. King Philip II also celebrated his marriage there with Anne of Austria, his fourth wife. The sumptuous castle consists of two parts. First, the exterior with its courtyard, the moat, the drawbridge and the keep. Then the interior dependencies which include the royal rooms and the chapel. The interior halls were decorated by talented painters and Mudejar artists. With its Mudejar-style ceiling, the Hall of Kings is the most remarkable room in the fortress. There are the 52 statues of the Castilian and Leon kings leaning against the frieze.
It is still called the tower of John II, due to the important role played by this king in the continuous construction of the Alcazar. Indeed, it was John II who built the new keep ,square in shape, surrounded by four turrets, This impressive tower was used as a weapons room. You reach the top of the tower thanks to a narrow and very steep staircase, and from there, you can enjoy a superb view of Segovia and its surroundings, The keep of the Alcazar of Segovia is one of the riches that give this magnificent castle a majestic setting.
This is a must while in Segovia and worth your detour if in Spain. I love it , and could not possibly come to Segovia or Madrid for that matter without stopping by. Luckily, this has been often in the last few years.
The official Alcazar of Segovia: http://www.alcazardesegovia.com/
The Segovia tourist office on the Alcazar:https://turismodesegovia.com/es/monumentos/28-alcazar
The Comunidad Autonoma region of Castilla y Leon tourist board on the Alcazar: https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/art-culture-heritage/castles/alcazar-segovia
There you go folks, a wonderful beautiful fortress of Alcazar in gorgeous Segovia. A wonderful town as well ,small enough to walk all over with huge Spanish history around you ,not to leave out great architecture, Again, hope you enjoy the post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 