Segovia, Spain

Mon 14th & Tues 15th April

I’m writing this sentence a few days after we actually visited Segovia, but earlier today I asked Bevan what his favourite part of the trip had been so far and we both agreed – Segovia.

The city sits just an hour north of Madrid but appears to have minimal impact from tourism so far. Either that, or they’re doing a damn fine job of preserving the city from the many cheesy tourist shops that normally infiltrate highly beautiful cities. Don’t get me wrong, the tourist shops definitely still exist but you’re just as likely to find a balance of high quality shops filled with locally produced items tucked down some of the less travelled streets as you are to find ceramic plates painted with “Segovia” on the main high street.

Our campsite was located just north of the town and we could easily catch a bus into the city centre, which terminated at a 2-storey Roman aqueduct hovering over the city. From this point, a number of pedestrianised cobble stone streets fan out with most of them leading to the grand cathedral that sits at the very top of a large rock. Walking the narrow streets behind the cathedral leads you to a massive fortress that looks more like Cinderella’s castle than a real-life Spanish alcazar.

You can easily spend a day wandering the city on foot, but the real treat is viewing the city from afar. We took the city tourist bus for 5.35 euros and were stunned at how much there was to see just outside the city walls. Tiny villages with ancient monasteries were tucked into the valley just beneath the rock, plus many stunning views from the surrounding suburban neighbourhoods.

If we had known the torrential downpours that awaited us in northern Portugal, we probably would have stayed in Segovia for a few more days. A real treat to visit if you happen to have a day or two free in Madrid.