Location: Segovia
Top Things to do in Segovia
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Things to do in Segovia, Castile and Leon: The Best Museums
Segovia is a picturesque old city with twisting alleyways, the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe and pedestrian-only streets, all bordered by a medieval wall and two rivers. In 1985, this sleepy Castillan town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. One of the main tourist attractions is Alcázar, a royal palace built sometime around the 11th century where Queen Isabel agreed to fund Christopher Columbus’ exploration of the New World. The picturesque palace is said to be Walt Disney’s inspiration for Cinderella's Castle.
Restaurants in Segovia
1. Cathedral of Segovia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,386 reviews
The Holy Cathedral of Segovia is a Catholic temple devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and San Frutos. During the Communions War (1520 – 1522) the Cathedral was destroyed, it was located in front of the Fortress. They decided to build a new one. The first stone of the new Cathedral was used the 8th of June 1525 in its current location and its design relies on the architect D. Juan Gil de Hontañón. A Late Gothic style can particularly be seen on the Cathedral’s tower, the highest one during the XVII century. In 1614, a fire caused the destruction of its wooden spire. Hence, a stone spire designed by Pedro de Brizuela was used as a substitute. It was consecrated the 16th of July 1768 by Bishop D. José Martínez Escalzo. Currently, it is known by many as “The Lady of Cathedrals”, due to its size and slenderness.
Reviewed By JElliot32 - New South Wales, Australia
Segovia's Cathedral is said to be the last of Spain's Gothic cathedrals, started in 1525 after the previous cathedral was destroyed, but then not finished until 250 years later. Its interior is beautiful, typically sumptuous in the Spanish way and at times over-the-top. We also thought the building a more manageable size to explore than some of Spain's grandest cathedrals like Burgos or Toledo. Even so, it still took us nearly an hour to see it all, including the cloisters the chapterhouse and the treasures on display on the lower levels, and without doing the tower tour, which was only available in Spanish.
2. Alcazar of Segovia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,016 reviews
Fortress of the Kings of Castile and Royal School of Artillery Its picture has been around the world: a unique fairy tale-like palace that brings together architectural tastes of different monarchs. It tells -to all those who come to know it- ancient palatial stories. Austere, as they were the Castilian kings, raised on the rock at the confluence of the valleys of the rivers Eresma and Clamores, the Alcazar seems to watch over the city. Its beautiful Tower keep, often compared to the bow of a boat sailing between the two rivers, is of a stunning beauty. Tourists are amazed to realize that the fortress is a living part of this Castilian city, chosen as a place of residence for many of the monarchs of the Trastamara dynasty.
Reviewed By LaurieB980 - Portland, United States
Our tour guide took us here to this city, a UNESCO site, for a tour which included this beautiful castle in Segovia. It is said that Walt Disney used this castle as well as the Neuschwanstein castle in Germany as his inspiration for the castle at Disneyland, and we could see why! It is built high on what seems like a huge rocky formation with sheer dropoffs on many of the castle sides. The day we were there and outside looking over the edge, a sharp wind came up along with rain, and we had to be careful not to get blown away! We heard that they often have to close the terrace due to the high wind possibly blowing people over the edge down many feet below!! It is a great place to visit, and well worth the hour or so drive from Madrid.
3. Museo de Segovia Casa del Sol
4. House Museum of Antonio Machado
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 188 reviews
Reviewed By Turista-Inglesa - Estepona, Spain
Now we loved this, but I guess many of you wouldn't bother to go, because you have no idea who Antonio Machado was, and why they should make a museum out of the boarding house where he lived for a decade. Even if you have no idea, it's worth visiting. Well, he was one of the most famous of Spanish poets, a poet and a teacher of French, who had a sad life (his young wife Leonor whom he had married when she was just 15 or 16, died of TB aged 18), and was later forced to flee to France during the Spanish Civil War, going to join his elderly mother who was living in the enchantingly pretty town of Collioure, just over the border. But within a month he died, and his mother died just 3 days later. But the house has been restored, furnishing, decorations, kitchen and all, to the condition in which it was when he lived there in the 20's, and that alone is a good curiosity that warrants the €2.50 entrance fee. We used the audioguide, but in Spanish as we are Spanish speakers, sorry, I don't know if there is an English one available, and it gave really fascinating information, so we spent nearly two hours in that tiny house, examining carefully just about everything there!
5. Coleccion de Titeres de Francisco Peralta
6. La Carcel Segovia Centro de Creacion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
7. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Esteban Vicente
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 57 reviews
The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Esteban Vicente houses the extraordinary collection of works donated by Esteban Vicente (Turegano, 1903 - Long Island, 2001), the only Spanish member of the first generation of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism in America. The exhibition of this Permanent Collection alternates with temporary exhibitions and cultural activities such as lectures, recitals and concerts. The museum is located in the medieval palace of King Henry IV, of the Trastamara family, whose construction dates back to 1445. In addition to its five exhibition spaces, the visitor can also enjoy its Renaissance chapel with its Hispano-Moorish carved wooden ceiling, currently the auditorium of the museum, and the garden where Esteban Vicente's ashes repose and the garden where Harriet and Esteban Vicente's ashes repose. The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Esteban Vicente has become an important point of reference for every visitor to Segovia, a city whose entire historical and cultural legacy has been designated by the UNESCO as a World Historical Heritage Site.
8. Casa de los Picos
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 154 reviews
Reviewed By dsmith31 - Halifax, Canada
This building is along the walk toward the Alcazar so is easy to find. There is a look off area on the left shortly before arriving here. This city holds many different styles of architecture around every turn.Have your camera ready.
9. Torreon de Lozoya
10. Real Casa de la Moneda
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 165 reviews
Real Casa de Moneda (Royal Mint) The visit to the Real Casa de Moneda (Royal Mint) invites you to learn the thrilling history of this building built by Felipe II. You will learn about the minting processes which were used here over three hundred years in the fabrication of money.
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