About Segovia, Spain:
The city of Segovia is picturesque, with the remains of a Roman aqueduct and surrounded by a medieval wall with the Alcazar ( a royal palace) overlooking the town. It has many pedestrian-only streets, which makes your visit here quite easy.Segovia, Spain, is a compact UNESCO World Heritage city (old town + aqueduct since 1985) about 90 km northwest of Madrid. It sits on a rocky ridge at ~1,000 m elevation with the Sierra de Guadarrama as a backdrop, offering Roman engineering, a fairytale castle, Gothic architecture, and excellent Castilian food in a very walkable historic center.
The Roman Aqueduct is the city’s iconic landmark (1st–2nd century AD). About 167 arches of dry-fitted granite (no mortar), up to about 91 feet (28 meters) high, carried water 9 miles (15 km).
Another tourist attraction is the Alcázar of Segovia, a dramatic castle on a rocky spur above the Eresma and Clamores rivers (origins 11th century, later royal residence). it has been said to have inspired Disney’s Snow White/Cinderella castle (although others vie for this claim). Climb the Torre de Juan II (152 spiral steps) for panoramic views.
Other highlights include The Jewish Quarter (Judería) with narrow streets and the former main synagogue (now Corpus Christi church); Romanesque churches (San Martín, Vera Cruz—a 12-sided Templar church).
In Segovia, almost everything is walkable…but there are hills and cobblestones, so as usual, we recommend good walking shoes.
Two of the main sites of interest for Catholics are the Convent housing the tomb of Saint John of the Cross and the Cathedral.
Catholic Churches and places of interest in Segovia:
The Discalced Carmelite Monastery (tomb of Saint John of the Cross)
The Segovia Cathedral & tomb of Saint Fructus
Traveling to Segovia, Spain:
Madrid is the nearest large city to Segovia.
By plane: The closest airport to Segovia is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), located approximately 42.7 miles (68.7 km) southeast of the city center.
By train: There is direct train service from Madrid Chamartin Station. The trip takes about 25 minutes.
By car: The driving distance from Madrid is about 63.7 miles (102.6 km), which typically takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes by car.