5 Hours in Segovia

Anyone that comes to stay or live in Madrid for an extended period of time will know there are two places almost everyone visits during their time here: Toledo and Segovia. Both towns are situated no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes from Madrid by public transport and both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

I took a rather spontaneous trip to Segovia yesterday as I felt like I just needed to get out of the hustle and bustle of Madrid for a bit after a rather busy 6 weeks here. (I honestly can't believe I've been here that long already!)

As I'm a poor student being paid lower than the minimum wage at my internship (no joke..), I scoured the internet to find the cheapest way to get there and back that suited the time I had available. In the end I decided to take a Regional train from Chamartín station at 10.15 which got me to Segovia at 12.15. There are quicker trains which can get you there in under an hour, but this train cost me just €8 and it took a really pretty scenic route so the time passed quickly! For the way back I booked a bus which left Segovia at 17.15 and arrived in Madrid 18.30, as it was just €4.50! A total of €12.50 in public transport for a day trip isn't bad going, in my opinion!

When I got to Segovia train station just after 12, I decided to head straight for the Roman Aqueduct, one of the main sights of Segovia. It's actually in fact considered to be one of the Roman Empire’s most impressive works of engineering. It is thought to have been built at the end of the 1st century and was in use right up until the middle of the 19th century. It is comprised of 166 stone arches on granite ashlars, set with neither cement nor mortar, instead they were built using an ingenious technique based on balancing forces. I find that so fascinating! And it's honestly even bigger than I was expecting. I was in awe looking up at it!

I then took a walk down some of the cute streets around the Aqueduct. I really liked the buildings and the quaint little side streets, and I just overall got a really nice feel about the place. It has a nice relaxed atmosphere and although it obviously attracts lots of tourists, it didn't feel overrun with tourists. Spanish was still the principal language I heard spoken in the streets and it felt very authentic Spanish.

After just wandering for a bit, I came across the San Martín Church which is a really pretty building. I found it cool that it was right where all the shops were, so one minute you're looking at modern shops such as Tiger, Yves Rocher etc. and then you turn to the right and there's this amazing old church right there.

I then made my way to the Plaza Mayor. By far the most incredible thing there is the Segovia Cathedral. It's huge and has such an interesting structure! I don't think I've seen a cathedral like it before.

After taking a little pit stop in the Plaza Mayor to have a bite to eat, I continued on to the Alcazar de Segovia, the thing I was most excited to see ever since I'd read that it was rumoured to be the castle that inspired the one in Beauty and the Beast. It was such a cool sight to see and I could definitely see the resemblance between it and the castle from the Disney movie! 

I decided to pay the €6 entry fee (for students! I think it's around €9 without a discount) in order to go inside and also to be able to go up to the Tower of John II of Castile. I didn't pay for an audioguide but be warned that if you find yourself here, there is absolutely no information in the rooms inside other than in the Artillery Museum so if you do want to learn more about the interior it's probably worth either getting an audioguide or paying for a guided tour (only available in Spanish). I didn't get an audioguide simply because I'd read a lot about the castle on the train on the way to Segovia.

I must say the highlight for me was definitely the Tower. You have to climb a total of 152 steps up a narrow staircase (not going to lie, as someone with slight claustrophobia I panicked a bit when I saw how narrow the staircase was but didn't let it deter me!), and once you get to the top you have the most beautiful panoramic views over Segovia. It's such a pretty little place and the snow-capped hills in the distance contrasted with the blue sky was just a beautiful sight.

With an hour and a half left before my bus back and a dying phone which contained my bus ticket I decided to head back towards the shops to try and find a cheap charger. I got one from Tiger (along with a very belated but much needed 2019 diary!) and went and got a coffee and a donut in a nearby café so I could charge my phone and save my bus ticket and refuel my energy after nearly 11km of walking in total!

I really enjoyed my day trip to Segovia. It's such a pretty place and if you have the chance to go I would highly recommend it! It's lovely to just wander around and of course the sights are amazing! If anyone wants any more information about Segovia, or how to get there or anything, please just send me a message!

- C x