Day 3 Avila to Segovia
Travel in style day 3 from Avila via El Espinar to Segovia
We left Avila midmorning
on the 5th August, with a clear blue sky, sunshine and a delightful temperature, in other words not too hot. We choose the smaller, shorter distance on SV-500 and SG-500 combined for the first 40km. Very straight road, along the flat farming country side, here and there were portal signs not only to large country farms but also several ruined farm buildings. Overall, the tarmac road was in good nick.
El Espinar
is located only 32km to Segovia and approximately 65km to Madrid. Less than 9,000 inhabitants. El Espinar is situated on an altitude of 1,190m at the Tierras de Segovia region.
We parked on one side of Plaza Constitucion, shops, bars-cafes-restaurants Time for breakfast, lucky we find our brekfast place in one of the corner streets of the Plaza.
Bar El Manso.
Cuisine made by the excellent cook Nieves. Carlos and Ángel are friendly, but above all they are very professional. We really enjoyed the El Manso breakfast.
Church San Eutropio
the impressive Gothic-Renaissance style building of the church San Eutropio. Alledgely the Church was built entirely on the ruins of another previous medieval church that suffered a fire in 1452. The reconstruction of this church, ended in 1572, in a Gothic-Renaissance style.
We arrived to Segovia in style down the Avenida Roma and in front of us the Aqueducto - wow!
We stayed in the lovely Eurostars Plaza Acueducto Hotel.
You step out the main entrance to the hotel and the Aqueducto is to your left. Garage parking a bit tight for the Maserati, but OK.
As it now was late lunchtime, we went to one of the several restaurants next to each other located very close (paralell) to the aqueduct. Before we know we find ourself seated at the Restaurante Acueducto Casa de Comidas. We had the traditional and famous local dish of Suckling Pig as a tapa each - very tasty.
Explore Segovia.
The excellent Segoguide another way to know Segovia.
After lunch we strolled into the old town towards Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and Alcazar de Segovia. Slightly uphill on Calle Juan Bravo, shops, bars/restaurants and impressive buildings.
One of several buildings is the church of San Martin that was uilt in the 12th century , allegedly it already existed in 1117, because in Domingo Petit's testament his abbot appears as a witness. On one side of the square Plaza Medina del Camps next to Church San Martin is the statue of Juan Bravo a legendary hero.
We are now approximately half way between the aqueduct and Plaza Mayor. continue to stroll on and within another 10-15 minutes we reach Plaza Mayor.
Plaza Mayor, Segovia.
Long before Geoff and I was seated on the plaza (built in the 17th century) people watching and enjoyed a glass of white wine the space/plaza was treated as the center of Segovia, where vendors would install their stands and citizens would socialize and meet.
It was the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. Built at the highest point in the town.
Construction of the cathedral of Segovia began in the year 1525, during the reign of Carlos V. It is in the late Gothic style and was built after the fire in the old Romanesque cathedral in the year 1520. It has a ground plan with three naves, lateral chapels and a semicircular sanctuary with an ambulatory.
Text by Spains official Tourism website
Plaza Mayor is where the Jewish quarter begins, we entered via Calle Marques del Arco, the Cathedral on your left, after 200-250m pass the Plaza de la Merced on your left, continue strait on, the street have now another name Calle Daoiz.
Apprximately around 350-400m walk slightly downhill until you reach the entrance to Alcazar de Segovia.
When I turned around and look back. I saw a different view and quite exceptional site of the Cathedral towering high over the surrounding buildings - stunning.
We entered Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia,
the beautiful and colourful garden of Alcazar de Segovia de Segovia.
Included in their website link useful information about individual or group visits. Beautiful images showing on the site.
The Alcázar of Segovia
(literally "Segovia Fortress") is a medieval castle located in the city. The “fortress” is a World Heritage Site.
The tower of John II of Castile culminates in a large panoramic terrace. From it you can appreciate a great view of the city. Especially the neighborhood of las Canonjías, the cathedral and the Jewish quarter.
The two staircases that go to the top have 156 steps, most of them on a rather narrow and inclined spiral staircase
Some text from Wikipedia
Day 3 late evening
We returned to the hotel around 23:00, after a good 10 hours sightseeing of Segovia, lots of walking, tapas for lunch, relaxing at Plaza Mayor, having viewed the Cathedral, had a good look at Alcazar of Segovia,
returning down town to join the evening crowd, visiting a few bars/restaurants, there were plenty of choices, lastly we opted for one with musical entertainment close to our hotel.
Tomorrow off to Leon, day 4 travel in style
