SegoviaBy Nick

Weinschrott

LocationA walled city in SpainLocated within the

Iberian PeninsulaNorth of MadridIt’s the capitol of the

Segovia Province

Map of Spain. The colored dot

is Segovia.

HistoryLegend says that Segovia was founded in the year 1076

B.C. by the Egyptian Hercules, great-grandchild of Noah.

Segovia got its name during Celtic times when it was called Segobriga which means City of Victory.

When the Romans controlled the city, they named it Segovia. They built the famous aqueduct.

The city was abandoned after Spain was invaded by the Moors.

After the conquest of Toledo by Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon, the city became Christian.

Segovia became an important trading city with a diverse population.

World Heritage SiteIn 1985, Segovia was

declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO because if its cultural heritage

Cultural monument includeAqueduct of SegoviaAlcazar of SegoviaSegovia CathedralWalls of SegoviaThe Templar Iglesia Vera

Cruz

Aqueduct of Segovia

Aqueduct of SegoviaOne of the most significant and best

preserved monuments in Spain.Stands over 20 meters high with 166

arches.Built by the Romans in the late 1st or

early 2nd century.Consists of 25,000 granite blocks put

together without mortar. Known as the “Puente de Diablo” or

Devil’s Bridge. Legend says the devil built the bridge in one night to win a young woman's soul and the holes on the stones are the marks of the devil's fingers.

The Segovia coat of arms features the aqueduct

Segovia Coat of Arms

Alcazar of SegoviaA royal palace that

began as a wooden Arab fort.

Spanish kings built the current castle over the old wooden fort.

Became the favorite residence of the kings of Castile and Leon.

Has two towers and two courtyards.

Alcazar of Segovia

Segovia CathedralBuilt in 1525 and

completed in 1768.Known at the Lady of

Cathedrals.Considered a

masterpiece of Basque-Castilian Gothic.

Last Gothic Cathedral Built in Spain.

Contains 20 chapels.Segovia Cathedral

Walls of SegoviaBuilt with granite

rocks and reused gravestones from the Roman necropolis.

Has three main gates:San CebriánSantiagoSan Andrés, the gate

between the two towers

Walls of Segovia

Vera Cruz ChurchVera Cruz means

the True Cross.Built by the

Knights Templar in 1208 to house a fragment of the True Cross.

Features a unique 12-sided exterior with a tower on the south side.

The Templar Iglesia Vera Cruz

City of GardensSegovia has many

beautiful parks and gardens.

The Alcazar Gardens were created to honor the marriage in the Phillip II to Anne of Austria in 1750.

Alcazar Gardens

Segovia FestivalsSan Frutos (October 25) celebrates the

Patron saint of Segovia St. Fructus.The Easter processions in Segovia are famous

throughout Spain. Titirimundi (May) celebrates puppetry and

puppet theatre.International Festival Segovia (July) includes

a number of music and dance (focusing on the flamenco) performances.

SourcesSacred Destinations: SpainSegovia Tourist BoardSpain for Visitors