Visiting Sergovia - A Hidden Gem

chillibreeze writer — Sarika Pandit

Need an editable PowerPoint map of Spain

If you happen to plan a trip to Spain and are tempted to hold on tightly to your travel agency’s tried and tested itinerary (no doubt revolving around the famous Madrid and Barcelonan extravaganza), you might want to consider experimenting just a tad and in the bargain, milking a more enriching experience out of your trip!

Undoubtedly, both Madrid and Barcelona epitomize the spirit of Spain and are exciting and rich in terms of the Spanish experience. However, for those of you who would like to explore Spain and contrast the energy of Barcelona and the cosmopolitan culture of Madrid with the serenity of a town less travelled, a town known for its romantic, intimate sleepy-town charm, its beautiful churches and its ambience-enhancing Roman and Gothic architecture, Segovia is your not-too-expensive and ideal solution.

This small enchanting town, which forms part of the Castilian region, lies to the northwest of Madrid and is about an hour away from the country capital by bus. Train is another alternative to getting there, though it might take a bit longer. The best part about Segovia is that one can get around the entire town on foot within a day.

The bus drops you at the lazy Azoguejo Square, from where you can embark on your Segovian discovery. It is here that you see one of the main attractions of the town, the imposing and spectacular Aquaduct, rising to its peak. Two things strike one almost immediately; its stone arches, characteristic of the Roman architecture (it was built by the Romans more than two millenia ago) and how remarkably it has been preserved over the centuries. A noteworthy fact is that like the Piramyds of Giza, these stones are held together, not by cement or any other binding material, but by sheer gravity.

Like almost every city in Spain, Segovia too has its Plaza Mayor – The Town Square, which forms the central hub. Although Segovia’s Plaza Mayor is smaller as compared to those in Madrid, Salamanca and other cities in Spain, it has an old world appeal of its own. Situated in the heart of the city, this soul of Segovia is connected to the rest of the town through narrow winding cobbled lanes, lined with delightful little restaurants and cafes and interspersed with shops selling everything ranging from wine and pottery to souvenirs and other knick knacks.

Not too far from the Plaza Mayor and an absolute must see is the famous landmark – the Town Cathedral. The Gothic style of the Cathedral transports you way back to the sixteenth century. Inside the medieval cathedral, the sight of the several chapels and the beautifully carved walls leave you gasping for breath and make your entrance fee every bit worth it.

Another definite must see is the majestic Alcázar. One is most likely to be assaluted by a strong sense of deja vu on approaching this castle-like structure with its towering spires. The déjà vu is swiflty followed by the proverbial ‘click’ in the head on learning that Walt Disney drew his inspiration partly from the Alcázar to build his magical Cinderella’s fairy-tale castle. Once a home to royalty, the castle now serves as a museum displaying everything from four poster royalty beds to Spanish artillery. The interesting guided tour through the various rooms is capped by a spectacular view from the top of the castle – the picturesque Segovian panorama dotted with red roofs of quaint houses and spires of old churches.

April to June is the most pleasant time to visit Segovia. Throughout Spain, it gets warmer in July and August and the winters can be particularly cold.

The best way to end the vist is to unwind leisurely at one of the sidewalk restaurants, sample the ‘tapas’ (not necessarily free as in many places in Madrid), feast on the sumptuous local cuisine of salads, lamb and fish and wash it down with some ‘vino tinto’ (red wine) or ‘cava’ (sparkling white wine). For those who would like to savour wine with a dash of fruits, there’s always the local drink, ‘Sangria’ available.

As you listen to the tunes rifting from one of the musical groups passing by and soak in the beauty, peace and quiet of this lazy little town, the inevitable heavy-hearted ‘adios’ is bound to be coupled with joy in the knowledge that you trode down a road less explored.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

—About our writer:

Sarika says, "Born in Nigeria and brought up in Mumbai, I'm a market researcher by profession and a wanderlust-driven travel junkie at heart. Reading and writing are my passions and I also enjoy dabbling in oil painting from time to time. I'm at my happiest best spending time with my folks, planning trips, experiencing them and re-living them!"

>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:

More resources for Writers on Chillibreeze.com

Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:

Assessment of your writing, editing and proofreading skills

Writing courses

Expert Feedback on your article

An opportunity to promote yourself on our website

Top websites for Indian writers

Tips and resources for Indian freelancers

Book Publishing services

And more………………..

Explore our writers’ section using the links on our left-hand side menu.