Segovia

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For the Spanish classical guitarist, see Andrés Segovia.
For the ancient city of southern Spain, see Segovia (Baetica).
Segovia
Flag of Segovia Coat of arms of Segovia
Flag Coat of Arms
...
Location

Location of Segovia in Spain
Coordinates : 40°57′N, 4°10′W
Time zone : CET (GMT +1)
- summer : CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name Segovia (Spanish)
Spanish name Segovia
Postal code 40001-40006
Website http://www.segovia.es/
Administration
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Castilla y León
Province Segovia
Mayor Pedro Arahuetes (PSOE)
Geography
Land Area 163'6 km²
Altitude 1002 m AMSL
Population
Population 54,945 (2003)
Density 340,1 hab./km² ()
Aqueduct of Segovia
Aqueduct of Segovia
Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party Flag of Spain Spain
Type Cultural
Criteria i, iii, iv
Reference 311
Region† Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1985  (9th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
† Region as classified by UNESCO.

Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Segovia in Castile-Leon. It is situated about an hour north of Madrid, at 40°57′N, 4°10′W. 55,586 people live in the municipality of Segovia.

Contents

[edit] Name

Under Roman and Moorish rule, the city was called Segovia (Σεγουβία, Ptolemy ii. 6. § 56) and Šiqūbiyyah (Arabic شقوبية) respectively. This Celtic name probably means "fortress".

[edit] Sights

The old city is spectacularly situated atop a long, narrow promontory. It contains a wealth of monuments, including the cathedral, a famous ancient Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar, and various churches built in the Romanesque style including San Esteban, San Martin, and San Millan. The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is surrounded by walls built in the 8th century AD, probably on a Roman base, and rebuilt extensively during the 15th century.

[edit] Aqueduct

The Aqueduct of Segovia, typically the most recognized and famous symbol of Segovia, terminates at the entrance of the historic section. It was built at the end of 1st to early 2nd century BC by the Romans during their occupation of the Iberian Peninsula to bring water from the Río Frío (Cold River)(about 18 km away) to the city, requiring an elevated section in its last 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) from the Sierra de Guadarrama to the walls of the old town. This elevated section, largely dominating the nearby scene, is supported by an engineering marvel of 166 arches and 120 pillars in two levels. It is made of 20,400 large, rough-hewn granite blocks, joined without mortar or clamps. Its maximum height of 28.1 m (100.53 ft) is found at the plaza of Azoguejo. A raised section of stonework in the center once had an inscription. Today only the holes for the bronze letters survive. The aqueduct continues to supply water to the city, albeit now in cast iron pipes laid in the original Roman channel.

[edit] Alcazar Castle

.The Alcázar, or castle-palace is perched at the tip of the promontory and towers over the countryside below. The history of the Alcázar begins at the end of the 11th century, when king Alfonso VI reconquered lands to the south of the river Duero down to Toledo and beyond. The city of Segovia was repopulated. It is thought that the construction of the castle began in those times. During the Middle Ages, the Alcazar of Segovia was the favorite residence of kings of Castile, and almost each king added new parts to the building, transforming the original fortress into a courtier residence and prolonging the construction of the castle till 16th century, when King Philip II added the conical spires and the slate roofs. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs, but they were restored in the very same style they were built more than 300 years ago.

[edit] Cathedral

Main article: Segovia Cathedral

The Cathedral of Segovia stands in the city's central plaza. Constructed by architect Juan Gil de Hontanon in the late Gothic style between 1522 and 1577, it is widely considered Europe's last great Gothic cathedral. The kind of Gothic is called Isabelino.

[edit] Church of Vera Cruz

The church of Vera Cruz, beyond the Alcazar and the city walls was founded by the Knights Templar. It is built in the circular style, a common design of the Templars, in recognition of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is currently owned and maintained by the Knights of Malta.

Owing to these famous monuments, Segovia is a very popular tourist destination, especially as a day-trip from Madrid.

[edit] Demography

Demographic evolution of Segovia between 1991 and 2004
1991 1996 2001 2004
54,375 54,287 54,368 55,586

[edit] Twin Cities

[edit] Famous Segovians

[edit] External links

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World Heritage Sites in Spain

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín · Altamira Cave · Aranjuez Cultural Landscape · Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida · Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco (Tarragona) · Archaeological Site of Atapuerca · Ávila with its Extra-mural Churches · Burgos Cathedral · Cáceres · Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí · Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias, Seville · Cordoba · Cuenca · Doñana · El Escorial · Garajonay · Ibiza (Biodiversity and Culture) · Las Médulas · Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon · Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias · Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona · Palmeral of Elche · Poblet Monastery · Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (with France) · Renaissance Monuments of Úbeda and Baeza · Rock-Art on the Iberian Peninsula · Roman Walls of Lugo · Route of Santiago de Compostela · Salamanca · San Cristóbal de La Laguna · San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries · Santa María de Guadalupe · Santiago de Compostela · Segovia and its Aqueduct · Silk Exchange in Valencia · Teide National Park · Toledo · University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares · Vizcaya Bridge · Works of Antoni Gaudí
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