5 Reasons Segovia is Well Worth the Day Trip

Spain is a historical, ethnic, vibrant country bursting with life in all facets. Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia are just a few of the gems the country has to offer. If you want to experience life to the fullest, visit Spain; they have the finer points down on just how to enjoy life in all forms.

From beaches to big cities, Spain covers it all. While you can lose yourself for days within the bigger cities, it is well worth your time to carve out a day for Segovia.

Segovia is a historic endearing city with a population of only 50,000, located about 50 miles Northwest of Madrid; making it the perfect length for a day trip when visiting Spain and spending time in Madrid (one hour by bus).

The walled city is chalk full of stunning views, elaborate monuments, the highest concentration of Romanesque cathedrals in all of Europe, fantasy-like castles and quaint cobblestone pedestrian alleyways to browse in between visiting the top attractions.

In case you are on the fence about whether this trip should be added to your itinerary, here are 5 points to sway your decision:

First, how to get in from Madrid.. bus or train?

There are two options when going to Segovia from Madrid via public transportation, you can either travel by bus or train. The bus is the better option. The drop-off/departure point in Segovia is walking distance to where you will want to explore. Also, the overall trip duration is shorter and cheaper.

There are many options when choosing your roundtrip bus ticket from 6:00 to 23:00 daily.

Insider Tip: Make sure to choose OPEN RETURN so you can decide once you've arrived in Segovia, when to make your journey back instead of being locked in to a certain time.

5. La Muralla (ramparts)

Segovia is a typical medieval town surrounded by walls, also know as ramparts. These ramparts date back to the 11th century and a majority part of the walls, made of limestone, have been well preserved throughout their history. You can also walk along the ramparts which overlook the Jewish quarter and the city's monuments for great views.

4. Old Town

Once you enter through the ramparts, you are in the Old Town of Segovia; a maze of cobblestone streets filled with local shops, cafes, and restaurants. A great way to spend the day strolling around being enveloped in the history and overall impressions of the city.

Insider Tip: While in Spain, keep an eye out for the El Clasico, (similar to the above statue). El Clasico is an older man dressed in nice slacks usually with a hat, a newspaper folded under his arm, a cane in the other hand, with a sweater or a sport coat. If he doesn't have a cane, he will be walking with his hands clasped behind his back. See how many you can spot, this is the typical Spaniard man.

I found my El Clasico in the Plaza Mayor; a square In the heart of the Old Town surrounded by diverse buildings, monuments, and churches with an open air pavilion in the center.

3. Catedral de Segovia

From Plaza Mayor, you can see the cathedral standing in all of its unique glory. The Catedral de Segovia was built in 1525 and took nearly 200 years to complete. It was the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. The entrance is 3 Euros and inside of the beautifully constructed yellow stone church, are vibrant stained glassed windows, gorgeous ceilings and about 20 chapels. The late Gothic cathedral stands at the highest point of the Old Town

2. Alcázar

If you continue your journey after the Catedral and follow the streets further, you will end up at a fairy tale castle, Alcàzar.

Walt Disney is said to have modeled Sleeping Beauty's castle in California's Disneyland after Alcàzar. Once you see the towers dating back to the 12th Century, you will feel the fairy tale influences as if you are in the movie yourself. The castle stands above the city on a steep rocky edge and if you climb the tower, (an extra 2 Euros from the 4.50 Euro entrance fee) the views will make you feel as if you are Sleeping Beauty herself.

1. Aqueduct

Nowhere else in Spain can you find such a remarkable monument in all of its Roman glory. The Aqueduct is where your journey to Segovia will begin, located in Azoguejo Square.

Being one the two largest existing Roman structures left in Spain, it was built in 50 AD and its purpose was to channel water 17 kilometers from the Acebeda River in the mountains, through a deep valley to the ancient city. The impressive 167 arches were built from 20,400 granite blocks without any cement with it's highest point being 28 meters. It still stands together perfectly today.

If you can have had visions of being a Disney character in a fairy tale for a day, be my guest. Segovia captures the magic of history, charm and unique architecture and rolls it all into one quaint walled city.

And the beauty of day trips? You can be back in Madrid that same evening to enjoy a classic sangria and patatas bravas in one of the many plazas Madrid has to offer, before diving into the night-life. Spain never sleeps.

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