Castile–Leon and Castile–La Mancha
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Castile–Leon and Castile–La Mancha - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Sort by:
7 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
1. Alcázar
It's believed that the Walt Disney logo is modeled after the silhouette of this turreted castle. Possibly dating to Roman times, the Alcázar was expanded in the 14th century, remodeled in the 15th, altered again toward the end of the 16th, and completely reconstructed after being gutted by a fire in 1862, when it was used as an artillery school. The exterior, especially when seen below from the Ruta Panorámica, is awe-inspiring, as are the superb views from the ramparts. Inside, you can enter the throne room, chapel, and bedroom used by Fernando and Isabel, as well as a claustrophobia-inducing winding tower. The intricate woodwork on the ceiling is marvelous, and the first room you enter, lined with knights in shining armor, is a crowd-pleaser, particularly for kids. There's also a small armory museum, included in the ticket price.
Pl. de la Reina Victoria s/n, Segovia, Castille and León, 40003, Spain92-121–0515Sight Details
Rate Includes: €9 for castle, tower, and museum -
2. Aqueduct of Segovia
Segovia's Roman aqueduct is one of the greatest surviving examples of Roman engineering and the city's main sight. Stretching from the walls of the old town to the lower slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama, it's about 2,952 feet long and rises in two tiers to a height of 115 feet. The raised section of stonework in the center originally carried an inscription, of which only the holes for the bronze letters remain. Neither mortar nor clamps hold the massive granite blocks together, but miraculously, the aqueduct has stood since the end of the 1st century AD. Climbing onto the aqueduct for photos or otherwise is strictly prohibited.
Pl. del Azoguejo s/n, Segovia, Castille and León, 40001, Spain -
3. Catedral de Segovia
Segovia's 16th-century cathedral was built to replace an earlier one destroyed during the revolt of the Comuneros against Carlos V. It's one of the country's last great examples of the Gothic style. The designs were drawn up by the leading late-Gothicist Juan Gil de Hontañón and executed by his son Rodrigo, in whose work you can see a transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style. The interior, illuminated by 16th-century Flemish windows, is light and uncluttered (save for the wooden neoclassical choir). Across from the entrance, on the southern transept, is a door opening into the late-Gothic cloister, the work of architect Juan Guas. Off the cloister, a small museum of religious art, installed partly in the first-floor chapter house, has a white-and-gold 17th-century ceiling, a late example of artesonado (a Mudejar technique using intricately joined wooden slats).
Calle Marqués del Arco 1, Segovia, Castille and León, 40001, Spain92-146–2205Sight Details
Rate Includes: From €3 (free Sun. Mass) -
4. Palacio Real de La Granja
If you have a car, don't miss the Palacio Real de La Granja in the town of La Granja de San Ildefonso, on the northern slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The palace site was once occupied by a hunting lodge and a shrine to San Ildefonso, administered by Hieronymite monks from the Segovian monastery of El Parral. Commissioned by the Bourbon king Felipe V in 1719, the palace has been described as the first great building of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty. The Italian architects Juvarra and Sachetti, who finished it in 1739, were responsible for the imposing garden facade, a late-baroque masterpiece anchored by a giant order of columns. The interior was gutted by fire, but the collection of 15th- to 18th-century tapestries warrants a visit. Outside, walk through the magnificent gardens: terraces, ornamental ponds, lakes, classical statuary, woods, and baroque fountains dot the mountainside. Provided there is enough rainfall, on certain evenings in the summer (April–August, 12pm or 5:30–7 pm), the illuminated fountains are turned on, one by one, creating an effect to rival that of Versailles. Dates and start times sometimes change on a whim, so call ahead.
View Tours and ActivitiesPl. de España 15, San Ildefonso, Castille and León, 40100, Spain92-147–0019Sight Details
Rate Includes: €9 -
5. Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
This isolated Romanesque church on the outskirts of town was built in 1208 for the Knights Templar. Like other buildings associated with the order, it has 12 sides, inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It's about a 45-minute walk from town (you can see this church on a cliffside from the castle windows), but the trek pays off in full when you climb the bell tower and see the Segovia skyline silhouetted against the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Ctra. de Zamarramia, Segovia, Castille and León, 40001, Spain92-143–1475Sight Details
Rate Includes: €2.50, free Tues. 3–5pm -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
6. Iglesia de San Millán
Built in the 12th century and a model example of the Segovian Romanesque style, this church, a five-minute walk outside the town walls, is an architectural marvel. The exterior is notable for its arcaded porch, where church meetings were once held. The virtually untouched interior is dominated by massive columns, whose capitals carry such carved scenes as the Flight into Egypt and the Adoration of the Magi. The vaulting on the crossing shows the Moorish influence on Spanish medieval architecture. It opens for Mass only.
Av. del Acueducto 26, Segovia, Castille and León, 40002, Spain92-146–3876Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
7. Plaza Mayor
In front of the cathedral, this historic square comes alive every night and especially on weekends, when visiting Madrileños and locals gather at casual cafés that line the perimeter. There's a gazebo in the middle that occasionally hosts live music. (Otherwise it's occupied by children playing while their parents dine nearby.)
Pl. Mayor s/n, Segovia, Castille and León, 40001, Spain
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}.
{{ item.neighborhood }} | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.review }}
{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }}View Tours and Activities -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No sights Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
