Where to Stay and Eat in Segovia, Spain
One of the main attractions of Segovia, Spain is its very impressive aqueduct, which runs right through the old city and is staggering in its scale and balance.
Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain
Facts about the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia
- 166 granite arches;
- 29 meters maximum height, 15,000 meters long;
- 28,400 hewn stone granite blocks;
- water was collected from River Frio, 17 km away.
What is perhaps most amazing about this site is the complete absence of any mortar — the structure is held together by gravity acting against the proficiently hewn and placed granite stone.
Another site that should not be missed is La Iglesia de la Vera Cruz (constructed in 1208). This 12-sided church, located outside the city walls, was modelled after the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by the Knights Templar.
Where to Stay in Segovia
Although Segovia is an easy daytrip from Madrid, we recommend staying overnight and enjoying the city, its sites and, of course, its delicious food.
If you want to stay in town, we recommend Hotel Ayala Berganza (C/ Carretas, 5. Tel +34 921460448), a small modern hotel located walking distance from Segovia’s main sites. The hotel was once a palacio and now has 11 rooms all decorated in a different style. The hotel is quite charming and offers rooms at very reasonable rates.
If you want to spend your holiday like the Madrileños, look into staying at Casa deHechizo, a stunning boutique hotel located just 20 kilometers out of town.
Where to Eat in Segovia
Segovia is famed for its food, especially, its cochinillo (roasted suckling pig). We had our best dining experience at Restaurant Duque (Calle Cervantes, 12. Tel +34 921462487), which not only serves up excellent cochinillo, but also serves other traditional dishes, such as judias con liebre (large white beans stewed with rabbit) and gazpacho. They also have an excellent wine list, full of local, high-quality, well-priced wines.
We also ate at El Bernardino (Calle Cervantes, 2. Tel +34 921462477), but although their cochinillo is good, it does not quite rival Duque. There is, however, outdoor seating, which offers a very pleasant experience.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 09:07
This is tops on my must-see list! Thanks for the inspiration….
March 6th, 2010 at 16:19
You’re welcome, JoAnn – we love to inspire people to travel to new destinations! Segovia is worth a stop either overnight or on a daytrip from Madrid. Make sure to let us know when you go!
March 2nd, 2010 at 21:28
That is amazing that the structure is held together by gravity. Impressive. We haven’t been to Spain yet and we really have to get there soon, it looks amazing!
March 6th, 2010 at 16:13
Hi Dave and Deb! It IS amazing that the structure remains standing despite the fact that there is no mortar. I highly recommend Segovia as a stop when you visit Spain – it’s a charming city with great food and great wine…what more could you want!