From a Fairytale Castle to a Roman Wonder: Segovia Stunned Us

Another early morning, fortunately we had a short commute to the station as it lay just steps from our hotel’s front door.

We took a short train back to Madrid and had to familiarize ourself with the metro as we had to switch stations. The mornings excitement soon subsided and we found ourselves in another station and we huddled in a back corner with a small breakfast.

Soon we were again soaring down the tracks, this time heading to Segovia. We had misjudged which station we would arrive at and mistakenly arrived far from the city center. In a time crunch due to our timed entry tickets to the castle, we quickly flagged down a taxi and were soon rapidly speeding through the city and up towards the castle.

We happened to arrive just in time and spent the next few hours meandering through the vast halls of the castle. Each room was more grand than the next with armor, paintings, and ornate furniture abound.

We eventually found ourselves climbing ever so higher up the ramparts until we reached the summit.

The views from this perch were incredible and we could see as far as the horizon. Out in the distance, we were able to locate a small stone church that rose above it’s surroundings. As luck would have it, we would be at this church sooner than we’d know.

The clouds rolled in and the overcast sky could not have made a more picturesque backdrop for the surrounding scenery. Even with the wind, we never wanted to leave this tower.

Eventually we found ourselves back in the castle’s interior and were exploring halls of armor, weapons, cannons, and relics. The castle was never ending and we were enjoying every minute of it. Before long, we found ourselves at a simple door that behind it held a winding staircase.

Continuing to climb upwards, we now found ourselves now truly at the top of this towering fortress. The city fell before us and the view was astounding.

With the cold wind continuing to whip at our chests, we shrugged off the cold and peered over the edge to the city below.

Several long moments later, we found ourselves standing now at the castle’s exterior over looking the large ravine below. Over the past few days, we had see staggering architectural structure built upon these ridges and everything felt like it was pulled from a fantasy movie screen.

With the castle at our backs, we started onwards towards the city until discovering a small forgotten staircase leading down into the brush.

Unsure where this path could lead but ultimately pulled by a sense of adventure, we set off down the hill, unsure where this would lead us. The path consisted of a small dirt trail and leaf covered steps and we made sure to mind each step.

We bypassed a small gated cave and tried to enjoy the nature around us. Some time later, we found ourselves at the bottom of the hill and set off down the adjacent roadway.

Looking back to the way we just came, we were greeted with an awe inspiring view of the castle rising above the horizon like a silent behemoth.

As luck would have it, the small stone church we saw hours earlier was slowly coming into view and we spent the next half hour embarking on a pilgrimage to it. Soon the church grew larger and we found ourselves firmly in it’s shadow.

This church had a storied history and was constructed under the orders of the famed Knights Templar. If I recall correctly, the inner sanctum was circular as a nod to King Arthur’s round table. We paid a small fee and began to explore the interior and its secrets. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside yet managed to sneak a few.

Eventually we discovered a very narrow staircase and made the climb up the small bell tower. From this vantage point we were able to look back and see the castle we had explored just a bit earlier.

Stepping back out into the crisp afternoon air, we discovered a small footpath leading down the hill away from the historic church. Once again, spurred by a sense of misguided adventure, I set off down the hill seeing what lay below.

Unfortunately there was no hidden treasure or abandoned ruin and instead I discovered a small cottage and chicken coop several yards down the hill.

As we set off back towards the way we came, we again saw something that quickly grabbed our attention. We again noticed another small dirt path leading further away from the church and curiosity set hold once more. A short journey later, we found ourselves at a mouth of a small cave. After some quick exploring with my flashlight, I discovered a treasure trove of discarded beer bottles and forgotten food wrappers.

Due to our small exploration, we had a significant walk back to the city and civilization. During this walk, we found ourselves lost multiple times and yet just continued onwards and upwards back to the skyline.

As we eventually stumbled back into the populated streets, we again found ourselves utterly lost and confused by the maze of tight corridors and similar looking buildings. Fueled by hunger, we trudged on, determined to find a spot for lunch. Rain started to fall and we quickly darted into the closest establishment.

Once inside, we had a small lunch and managed to relax from our long walk that brought us here. These trips are rather draining consisting of walking countless miles a day so the brief time we have off our feet, we try to enjoy it. The manager must have noticed our somber presence and quickly brought over a tray of milk colored shots and forced us to drink them with him. Unfortunately this act of kindness faded quickly as when the bill came, we noticed we were definitely overcharged on our bill and left feeling pretty dejected.

However our emotions and spirits were raised to unimaginable heights when we managed to get our first glimpse at the Roman aqueducts that put this town on the map. As the first arch of the aqueduct slipped into view, none of us could conceal our excitement.

Standing for over 2,000 years; the aqueducts rose up before us and seemed to touch the clouds above. This was truly a marvel of human engineering and the fact that this massive construction had existed for such a long period of time (and was even in use up until 1973).

We could not believe the sight before us and spent several long moments taking as many pictures as possible and running to each side and angle, trying to soak it all in.

After a while, we had to say our goodbyes to the aqueduct and we walked through one of it’s many arches searching for our hotel that lay just beyond. We quickly checked in and tossed down our bags before setting off once more. We began to explore the surrounding city and it’s never ending streets lined with yellow bricked buildings.

During our stroll, the heavens opened and we experienced a torrential downpour of biblical proportions. Forgetting our umbrellas back with our bags in the room, we were utterly helpless and tried to duck under any awnings or alcoves for shelter. We were outside of the large cathedral and though we actually had not planned on visiting, we darted in for shelter from the rain. This later turned out to be one of the best decisions as not only were we now dry, but the cathedral held some incredible secrets of its own. Within the back vast hall, we were drawn like a month to a flame to the giant sphere.

A large illuminated model of the moon hung from the ceiling and the view was incredible. Austin and Matt had actually seen this same exhibit a year previous on their trip through Scotland and now I was seeing it first hand. The sight was incredible and having it hanging in this truly beautiful cathedral gave it an even heightened sense of awe.

We continued on throughout the church and found ourselves stopping at the various small sections throughout the massive interior. In one small section, we were greeted with a life sized model of the body of Jesus and were able to see the gnarly wounds of our Lord.

Thinking we had seen all that the cathedral had to offer, we eventually stumbled upon a small stone staircase leading into the ground below. Without so much as a thought, we bounced down the stairs to find ourselves in a great vault consisting of countless paintings and long past artworks.

This underground vault consisted of a small museum and we could not believe our luck. We had not even planned to enter this cathedral yet this rain, a true act of God, forced us into his house.

We spent as long as we could in these halls, browsing the artwork and relics of days long since past.

Unfortunately it was nearing the closing time and we had to depart. Fortunately the rain had subsided and we once more found ourselves out in the cool evening air. We began to meander through the streets, without a care or a plan. We let our feet be our guide and just enjoyed each other’s company in this fantasy land.

Before long the cold forced us inside and we found ourselves at a small isolated bar in the heart of the city. Having a small plate of tapas and drinks, we spent the time reminiscing about the adventures of the day.

Throughout these drinks, I make it a point to sample as many local beers as humanly possible and record it on a list. Seeing various tap handles, I sheepishly pointed at one with a cool label before being served a small glass of a red mystery liquid (obviously not beer as I had been expecting). This was actually vermouth and I was blown away by the flavor and profile.

Eventually we desired a more lively atmosphere and set back off into the chilly evening outside. During our walk through the city center, we became entangled in a crowd of costumed individuals having a small parade through the city.

We joined the festivities until stopping in a small convenience store and stocking up on local candy. Shortly after, we found ourselves nestling up to a bar and each enjoying some more vermouth. Feeling the effects of our drinks, we stumbled back to our room for some rest.

However the night was still young and we did not wish for the day in incredible Segovia to end. We lurched back out into the darkness and began to explore more of the aqueducts.

Further up from the aqueducts, we encountered a small squat individual and exchanged some pleasantries.

Walking through through the now relatively empty streets and plazas, a middle aged woman set upon us asking if we could walk her to a nearby bus station. Forever the gentlemen, we escorted her on our journey, all the while listening to her ramble and boast about her career, spouse, and friends. The station was much further than we expected and now found ourselves rather hungry, even at this late hour into the night. We decided to have some late night Ramen noodles at a local restaurant and just found ourselves in awe from the great day we just had.

Segovia was truly like something pulled from the pages of a fantasy novel. A historic castle perched on top of a mountain, a distant Knight’s Templar church, hidden caves, and a towering cathedral possessing a lunar body suspended from its rafters. It almost sounds like fiction.

To see the previous day’s adventure, click here.

To move onwards with us along our journey, click here.