Things to do in  Segovia

Running 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) around the Old Town of Avila, the Walls of Avila are some of Spain’s best-conserved medieval fortifications. UNESCO-listed along with the old town they enclose, the 12th-century walls look much as they would have in the Middle Ages.

The Ávila Cathedral is said to be the first Gothic cathedral ever built in Spain. Constructed to fit into the city’s fortified walls, it’s reminiscent of a castle—and this undoubtedly helped it survive hundreds of years of conflicts. Home to artworks and 15th-century stained glass windows, it’s a grand and unspoiled example of a Roman Catholic cathedral.

Home to the Segovia School of Art, this 16th-century building is one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks. Its façade is studded with more than 600 pyramid-shaped reliefs, lending the one-time noble house its name (“Pico” loosely translates to a sharp point in Spanish.) Whether this feature was added in the name of defense or merely decoration, no one really knows.

With a fairy-tale-like mix of architectural styles, the Alcazar of Segovia is one of Spain’s most distinctive castles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was built as a Moorish fortress and later converted into a palace by King Alfonso VIII of Castille. Rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century, the castle houses a military museum and archive.

Set on a hillside outside Segovia, the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (La Granja) was built in the 18th century by Philip V. Formerly a royal hunting ground and later royal residence and summer retreat, the baroque palace offers one of the best examples of a French formal garden in Spain, complete with sculptural fountains.

Built in the 1st century, the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia is one of the world’s best-preserved ancient aqueducts. It may make for an incongruous sight, running through this picturesque Spanish town, but it’s one of Segovia’s most famous landmarks. It runs for about 9 miles (15 kilometers); amazingly, the aqueduct still conveys water from the Frio River.

Towering over the city of Segovia, the 16th-century Segovia Cathedral was the last Gothic cathedral to be built in Spain. Featuring three naves, a dome-covered transept, a massive tower, and 18 interior chapels, the cathedral is an architectural masterpiece and one of the most popular attractions in Segovia.