IN AND AROUND MADRID GUIDE
A project by C1 Students
Cristina España´s
C1 students
Ms.Reet Soosaar Lecturer in English
WELCOME
Collado Villalba, 28th March, 2017
Dear Ms. Soosaar, We would sincerely like to express our gratitude for accepting our invitation to come to Spain. We will be delighted to welcome you and to make our best so that you have an unforgettable stay in Madrid. It is an honor for all of us to provide you with a wide range of activities that can offer you an inspiring and blissful experience. We would also greatly appreciate this opportunity as an incomparable chance to get to know one another. Moreover, we firmly believe this occasion will supply the right frame for a remarkable personal and cultural exchange. We are looking forward to meeting you soon. Sincerely, C1 Students
Places to visit in and around Madrid (Quick Look)
Madrid city centre
Prado Museum
Thyssen Museum
Contemporary and Modern Art Museum
Royal Palace and the Royal Armoury
National Library
Archaeological Museum
Navy Museum
In the area of Madrid
AlcalĂĄ de Henares (Madrid)
Cervantes’s square
Aranjuez (Madrid) (Royal Palace and its gardens)
Madrid Northern Sierra “La Pedriza” Stony mountain
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Valle de los Caídos
Around Madrid
ร vila (Walls)
Segovia
Aqueduct
Alcรกzar (castle)
Cathedral
La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia) (Royal Palace and its gardens)
Toledo
Panoramic view
Cathedral
Note: Pictures have been taken from Google images.
Prepared for Ms. Soosaar by Juliรกn Solana, C1C
MADRID CITY CENTER
A project by C1 Students
ENJOY MADRID Madrid as the Capital and largest city of Spain provides a wide cultural and artistic activity and all facilities tourist may need. It offers countless places to visit and hideouts to get lost. It has so many places to visit and so many things to do, that it is needed to plan in advance a good rout with some of the most interesting places. To make the choices a bit easier, we provide you with some essential information hoping that you can experience the city as much as possible. Puerta del Sol Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous squares in Madrid. You will find here some of the most significant points and buildings of the capital, for instance Oso y el MadroĂąo statue, Casa de Correos, Clock and Kilometer 0, all of them act like meeting points for all Madrilenians. Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor is located in the heart of Madrid, close to Puerta del Sol and Royal Palace. The square is surrounded by arcades and three floor buildings. Here you will find the Felipe III statue. It was a present from Florence Duke to the Spanish King. Casa de la PanaderĂa: the most important building and it was the first one built in the square in 1590. At first it was the most important bakery in Madrid. Its facade was decorated by Carlos Franco. Arco de Cuchilleros: the most known of the nine doors to access the Square. The name is from the street where the door arrives. Since 150 years ago,each and every Christmas Plaza Mayor gets full of stalls with Christmas items, jokes and costumes of all kinds.
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Gran Vía Gran Vía is the most known street in Madrid. Historically it has had many other names like Avenida de Rusia or Avenida del quince y medio.
The building of Gran Via was a project that lasted several decades. Fist drafts are dated 1862, when the old city was remodeled but the final design was in 1899. It was necessary to pull down more than 300 houses and 50 streets were affected. Its stunning architecture is really worth seeing. Thanks to Gran Vía a better communication between the city center (Alcalá Street) and the Northeast of the city (Pza. España) was possible. Nowadays three types of establishment can be found in Gran Vía: restaurants, fashion shops and cinemas. When cinemas were enjoying a boom, Gran Vía was called “the Madrilenian Broadway”. It is one of vital points of Madrid, and you will find a good atmosphere at any time of the day during the whole year. El Retiro El Retiro is the most important park in Madrid, from its opening in 1868. Its full name is ParquedelBuenRetiro. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, you may be pleasantly surprised by this peaceful Park where you can wonder around its green, wooded gardens, take a boat trip in its pond, enjoy street performers and admire the stunning sight of the Crystal Palace. It was built in 1887 together with the artificial lake; Crystal Palace is the head quarter of lots of temporary exhibitions. At first it was used as a greenhouse.
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In Retiro there are hundreds of hideouts to visit and activities to enjoy: puppets performance, musicians, hand readers, diviners and seers are some of its habitual distractions. Alfonso XII statue: impressive monument located in one of the banks. On Sundays you will find people playing small drums and other instruments. If you visit Madrid with children, El Retiro will become their favorite place: the boat trip, the puppets show and actors disguised as children characters will be fun for the smallest.
TAPAS CULTURE One of the most important attractions is the lively nightlife and mouth-watering tapas culture (authentic cuisine) that surely will lead you to a personal insight into Spanish food and also Spanish life in general. You will find lively people who will no doubt put themselves out for you. We can distinguish different areas accordingto different tastes; the most popular ones are Huertas (the liveliest), MalasaĂąa (bohemian atmosphere), and Chueca (the most fashionable district).
In a nutshell, Madrid can offer tourists a historical heritage and an exciting approach to Spanish culture that will surely bring back good memories.
C1 - C Laura Ruiz MĂłnica PĂŠre
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CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE: A MUSEUM AND A ROOFTOP It is said that Madrid is a cosmopolitan city where everyone is welcome. It is an enormous and lively city and offers a lot of possibilities to do every day during the day and also at night, because Madrid never sleeps! Here are two options related to culture and nightlife. The first plan is going to the Archaeological Museum, located behind the National Library at Serrano Street, 13. It is a nice museum if you like History because there you can find mummies, ancient rests, busts, columns...
The spaces are distributed for being more accessible and attractive. The price is affordable, only 3€ for general admission and on Saturdays from 14:00 the entrance is totally free.
Then, you can go to the Rooftop of the Circle of the Fine Arts by walking around 10 minutes. This Rooftop has one of the best and most spectacular views of Madrid and offers its visitors a great perspective of the urban landscape of the city and also great sunset views. The price is 4€, but it’s worth it.
Don’t you think is a good plan for a perfect day? Cynthia Lorenzo
BRIEF BROCHURE ABOUT SOME PLACES TO ENJOY EATING IN MADRID If you have the chance of visiting Madrid do not lose the opportunity of enjoying strolling through its charming streets, talking to its loving people, try to visit the great collection of art galleries and museums and have fun with its wide variety of shows for all type of audiences. All these activities can be accompanied by a tasty food prepared by one of the thousands restaurants that you can find in Madrid. To begin with, I recommend you to visit a restaurant called “Botin”. This restaurant is considered the most antique restaurant in the world. In fact, it appears at the Guinness book of records. Botín was opened in 1725 and is famous for its roast lamb and roast pig (its speciality). Although you can also find a wide range of meats and even tasty fish to eat there. The price is around 45 euros for a menu, not cheap but worthy.
If you want to enjoy one of the most typical dishes in Madrid, Cocido Madrileño, made with vegetables, soup, meat, chickpeas….you can go to “La Daniela” or “La Bola”. Both restaurants have Cocido Madrileño as its speciality, and for less than twenty euros per person, you will have real problems to finish your menu.
When you visit Plaza Mayor and its warm environment you would ask for one of the most typical foods that “Madrileños” tend to eat when visiting that place. The “Bocadillo de Calamares”, a cheap and tasty food (less than five euros) made with bread and cuttlefish. Do not miss the opportunity….
To finish this brief guide, I would like to recommend you a quiet stroll through Gran Vía street and enjoy a “Ham Sandwich, in Spanish Bocadillo de Jamón” bought in any of its charming bars. One of the most typical places to eat it, is called “El Museo del Jamón”, bread and Iberican Jam, a delicious combination. I am sure this will make you think that you have to come back…
Isabel Fernández Chico, C1A.
OESTE PARK AND DEBOD TEMPLE
The Oeste Park located in the West part of Madrid is one of the biggest green areas in the city. Covering an area of about 100 hectares, it was designed by Cecilio Rodriguez to be used as a place for walking and recreation. In the park we can find some very original places. In the South there is a ceramic school and the Rose Garden where every year the New Roses International Competition takes place. In Paseo de Rosales we can take the cable car and fly over Casa de Campo, a hunting reserve used by the Spanish Kings. Casa de Campo now is another public green area where the amusement park of Madrid is located. But the most surprising monument in the area is the Egyptian Temple of Debod. This real temple was built in the second century B.C. and was brought stone by stone from Egypt to Madrid in 1970. Originally it was located in Lower Nubia and it was going to be submerged under water when the Aswan Dam was finished. Spanish Archaeologist participated actively in the rescue of important monuments that were also going to be submerged as the Abu Simbel Temple, and the Egyptian Government gave the Temple of Debod to Madrid to show its gratitude for the help given. In the interior, we can find a chapel dedicated to the Gods Amon and Isis and it is decorated with reliefs that make reference to the life of the Egyptian Monarchs
. There are two viewpoints from where we can see Casa de Campo with the amusements park and a breathtaking view of the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and San Francisco el Grande Church
ONE DAY TOUR DOWNTOWN To spend a whole day enjoying the pleasures and every hideout of our old city centre, we propose to wake up early in the morning in order to take the train from Villalba to Sol station. Along the journey, you will appreciate the overgrown nature all around the outskirts of the North West of Madrid. It is pretty cheerful watching score of beautiful deers grazing and strolling through the landscape. Once you have arrived Sol station, we recommend taking two compulsory photos to show you have been at the Puerta Del Sol. The first one is El Oso y El MadroĂąo statue, which remind us how luxuriant Spain was several hundred years ago. It is said that a squirrel could travel from the North to the South of the country leaping over the trees without touching the ground. The second picture might be your foot stepping the KM 0 plate. This is the point from where every Spanish road starts from.
Afterwards our recommendation is to take a nice walk round the centric narrow cobbled streets until reaching Oriente Square. It´s a must-see beautiful place where you can visit the Oriente Palace, the Real Theatre and the Almudena Cathedral. However, as these visits take a long time of your day, you can have a look from the close balcony from where breathtaking views across the city are fantastic. If you decide to go on Sunday, it might be possible to spend a while watching the Real Guard Changing.
Then back to the Plaza Mayor, so that you taste the traditional Spanish ‘aperitivo’. By this time you will probably be hungry…. There are plenty of bars where you can have a break while checking the next visit. One particular place is the Mercadillo de San Miguel, an old market turned into a fashionable gastronomic centre. Nevertheless, if you want to try other alternatives, nearby there is a very typical and advisable street named Cuchilleros crowded with ‘mesones’, every one of them specialized in some delicious local food. As curiousity, we can tell you that one of them usually gives you the bill translated in a very old Spanish currency, so you will have a great fun with the waiters to turn it into the current euros. Moreover, there is another one called Botin, which is described in the Guinnes Book as the oldest meson in the world. Despite being overrun with tourists, all this part of the city will offer you the chance to feel involved with the personality of Spanish people.
Although you will want to stay much longer, we suggest continuing visiting the heart of the town and going for a walk along the Cava Baja Street. It is said to have been the dark side of the city in the old age, where the knights came in search of entertainment, wine and so on….It was the world of ‘picaresca’, term that we could translate as wiliness. Since then, it is even nowadays a lively place.
It´s time to have lunch and we can choose among scores of traditional restaurants; however we can recommend that you go to Santa Ana Square. Over there, there is a little street where you will find a ‘meson’ called La Toscana. It´s a much better bet than the overpriced restaurants in the tourist areas of town. We know it quite well, it´s a pretty basic typical place where you will taste authentic cuisine, reasonably priced. Our suggestion is to try the delicious ‘morcillo con patatas’ with a cup of a good red wine. After having enjoyed a pleasant and rewarding time of chat with your host, we invite you to take a glance to Gran Vía Street. This is a lively area crowded with fashionable shops and hordes of people, where some times you´ll find it hard to get through, but it is well worth visiting.
Since we guess that after this complete schedule and bustling excursion you will be tired, you can wrap up your day in a café called Valor, close to the Plaza de Callao underground station. It’s just only to have a coffee or if you dare to…. you could share one of the best typical and expected Spanish ‘chocolate con churros’.
After having experienced the taste of our old downtown, we would be looking forward to knowing about your opinion. We hope you have enjoyed it and bring a little piece of us with you!! Best regards,
Silvina and Gemma
LIVE SPANISH MUSIC IN MADRID, SPRING 2017 Relax and have fun in live music venues in Madrid, the perfect city to enjoy a standard and genuine musical atmosphere. Madrid offers a lot of authentic places where savor Spanish music, specifically in Spring 2017, a wide and interesting supply of concerts and performances will satisfy, without any doubt, the most demanding clients' expectations. Starting with flamenco, one of the most famous style of dance and music in Spain; whether one is a connoisseur of it or not, an evening in a "tablao" is a must. Here are the top five most important places, all of them located in the centre of the city. Booking in advance is required. •
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Villa Rosa is considered the oldest flamenco local in the capital, it has been working since 1911. The king Alfonso XIII used to frequent it and a secret tunnel is said to exist between the royal palace and the tablao. Later, famous people as Hemingway or Ava Gadner were also fascinated by it. It offers a wide range of shows and prices from 35€ to 135€. Plaza de Santa Ana, 15 - 915213689 Corral de la Morería was opened in 1956 and it has been considered by the New York Times "as one of the 1000 places one should visit before dying". It offers shows almost every day as well as an excellent restaurant. Prices from 50 (only show) to 80 (dinner included). C/ de la Morería, 17- 913651137
Café de Chinitas is located in a 18th century palace, it is decorated with colourful and beautiful shawls spreading over the walls. It takes its name from a best known and ancient café in Málaga. Prices from 50 (only show) to 80 (dinner included). Calle Torija, 7-915471502 Torres Bermejas offers a décor inspired by the architecture of the Alhambra in Granada. Some of the best flamenco artists have performed at this local and seeing celebrities is not uncommon. Prices from 40 (only show) to 80 (dinner included). Calle Mesonero Romanos, 11-915323322 Casa Patas is another central local in Madrid, it has a flamenco school and a flamenco foundation. Prices from 30 (only show) to 60 (dinner included). Calle de los Cañizares, 10- 9136904
Apart from tablaos, flamenco is also shown at theaters and auditoriums, this next Spring it is possible to attend three concerts, belonging to the serie Andalucía flamenca at the Auditorio Nacional de Música. Calle Príncipe de Vergara, 146- 913370140 • • •
On March 17, Rocío Márquez On April 21 Marina Heredia & Dorantes On May 7 Arcángel + Artistas Invitados
Furthermore, Teatros del Canal will host Suma Flamenca Festival, event organized by the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid from 6 to 18 June. Calle Cea Bermúdez, 1 - 913089999 Finally in this category, The Ballet Nacional de España performs on March 18 its show Homage to Antonio Ruiz Soler that includes significant choreographies by Antonio El bailarín. Teatro del Bosque (Móstoles), Avda. Portugal, 57 - 916645507 Moving on, zarzuela is a musical genre, similar to the german Singspiele, that came up in Spain in the 18th century. It had an important development over the next two centuries. Great works, some of them set in Madrid, offer realistic scenes , figures and customs from that ages. In Teatro de la Zarzuela these musical works are performed practically troughtout the year. Comming up on the stage: •
From 6 to 28 May: Enseñanza libre/La gatita blanca, double programme, music by Gerónimo Giménez and Amadeo Vives.
Young audience is trying to be atracted to this genre and for this reason the theater has launched a project entitled "Zarza". Calle de Jovellanos, 4-915245500
Teatros del Canal is another venue that offers this type of performance on its billboard. Teatro Victoria features one of the most famous zarzuelas, La verbena de la Paloma, from 9 to 30 March. The work was composed by Tomás Bretón in 1894, with libretto by Ricardo de la Vega. Calle Pez, 17
On another subject, for those interested in classical and ancient Spanish music it will be possible to attend the following concerts at the Auditorio Nacional de Música: • On May 9 Lunaire Ensemble perform Berceuse by Enrique Granados, as well as works by P. Boulez, M. Tournier, W.C Handy and A. Shönberg •
In general, for live music in Madrid one can go to: • Nuevo Café Berlín. Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 15 • Teatro Barceló. Calle Barceló, 11 • Sala Caracol. Calle Bernardino Obregón, 18 • Hard Rock Café. Paseo de la Castellana, 2 • Café Libertad. Calle Libertad, 8 • Sala La Riviera. Paseo Bajo de la Virgen del Puerto
The ABC Museum Have you ever dreamt about spending an amazing time in an authentic drawing museum? If you have answered with a yes, we invite you to come to The ABC Museum. Besides, you will enjoy the numerous exhibitions where you could immerse yourself in different cultures and artist’ minds through their astonishing drawings. Moreover, we count with a high quality shop where the most demanding purchasers will be able to satisfy their highest expectations with our books and publications about the previous expositions. We also offer some activities for the youngest. Do not hesitate and delight yourself with the architecture restoration made by 2 famous Spanish architects, Aranguren and Gallegos, they make an extraordinary work. Besides, both spaces, outdoor and indoor, are breath-taking.
Beatriz Estevez Seijas, N C1-A
IN MADRID
A project by C1 Students
ARANJUEZ, A MUST-SEE DESTINATION Located in the south of Madrid, Aranjuez is a small village full of beautiful gardens and wellpreserved monuments. It was built up in the 18th century for the rest and recreation of the Spanish Royal family, and was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. Crossed by the Tagus and Jarama rivers, Aranjuez is one of the most beautiful places to visit near the Capital; definitely worth visiting.
Although being a bit far from Madrid, there are several options to get to Aranjuez including public trains and buses. If you want to delight yourself with a calm trip enjoying the views, do not hesitate and take the public train from Atocha station (line C3). From May to October you can also make a trip to the past in the Strawberry Train, an old steam engine train mimicking the original trains that connected Madrid and Aranjuez to transport strawberry. It is for sure a nice round trip in a Historic Train with hostesses dressed in vintage which also gives the traveler the opportunity to taste the delicious strawberries from Aranjuez on board.
Whether you go on one of the available guided visits through Aranjuez, or you visit it on your own, there are some must-visiting places you cannot lose which will make your trip unforgettable. The Royal Palace Located on the Tagus riverside, the Royal Palace is the main attraction of Aranjuez. It is considered as one of the most beautiful palaces in Spain, and is characterized by its striking white and red colors on the facade. Don´t miss the amazing indoors. The Royal Palace is surrounded by a series of beautiful gardens where you can walk peacefully. 1
Parterre’s Garden Also named the little Versailles as it is inspired by the classic French baroque. It is located on the eastern side of the Royal Palace and is full of spectacular fountains.
The Prince’s Garden It is the largest of the three gardens surrounding the Royal Palace. The great amount of trees, most of them American trees, make this garden an amazing botanical garden. The Apollo´s Fountain and the Chinese lake are some of the most beautiful places of this garden.
The Island Garden Located in the north of the Royal Palace, this garden is surrounded by the Tagus. It is the oldest part of the gardens of Aranjuez, where monumental fountains recall the world of Greek heroes or pre-Christian mythology.
By Cova Sánchez and Camino Menéndez, C1C.
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MADRID sIERRA
A project by C1 Students
Are you feeling in a late medieval mood? Indulge yourself with a visit to Manzanares el Real Castle, the best preserved medieval castle of Madrid’s Region (Comunidad de Madrid). The all-powerful Mendoza’s family, one of the most esteemed Castilian families during the XV and XVI centuries, built this beautiful late Gothic and Mudejar palace, after being granted the Manzanares el Real ownership by the Castilian King Juan II. Located in the magnificent landscape of La Pedriza, the pink granite mass emerged in Guadarrama mountains, and with the Santillana Reservoir nearby, the Manzanares Castle has been the perfect scenario for films like “El Cid” (1961), featuring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, or the recent TVE “Isabel” historic show.
Nowadays the Castle can be visited and hosts many public and private events, like fencing competitions and classical concerts in the festival Los
Veranos de la Villa, which are performed in the elegant Renaissance courtyard or Patio de Armas, signed by the architect Juan Guas. Among their collections, there are a fine set of tapestries, armours and medieval pieces.
An impressive example of xv century Castilian military architecture, and one of the last of its kind in Spain, the Manzanares Castle south-facing facade is adorned with the splendid portico which gives it a special grace and uniqueness.
Visiting the castle of Manzanares el Real. How to get there. The town of Manzanares el Real can be reached from Madrid by bus from Plaza de Castilla Station (line 724), and from Villalba by bus (line 720). Visiting Times: October-May: From 10:00 am to 17:00 pm. June-September: From 10:00 am to 18:00 pm. Mondays closed.
PHILIP II´S SEAT This is a fantastic touristic route to explore at any time of the year. It is a short and easy itinerary for anyone, even to enjoy with children. Not only are the views breathtaking but you can also enjoy a pleasant walk through nature with several hiking trails. If you are passionate about natural spaces and you want to disconnect from your daily routine, come to this natural place! How to get From Collado Villalba you can go by car on the A-6 Motorway towards A Coruña and take exit 47 to El Escorial. Once you arrive to El Escorial, go through M-505 towards Avila and at 30,5 km of M-505 there is a parking to leave the car. The journey will take you about 20 minutes. The route The route begins on the asphalt road that you will find in front of the parking, across the road and 200 meters from there, you will see the little shrine of Virgin of Grace.
Once you have appreciated it, you will have two options to arrive to the Chair of Philip II. You can walk by the asphalt road until you arrive at Philip II’s seat or alternatively, you can walk through the path indicated as GR-10 (with red and white marks) surrounded by chestnut trees and oaks. The route will take you 20 minutes approximately. At that time, you will have arrived to Philip II’s seat. It is a great formation of granite in which there are stairs that take you to some sculpted seats. The views from there are wonderful. You will observe the imposing and majestic Monastery and the village in which it is embedded as well as all the nature that surrounds it. Moreover, it is worth seeing the landscape in each season of the year owing to the color changes in its vegetation.
History It is said that from here, Philip II controlled the building of the Monastery. However, historians believe that it is false, that it is a mistake that has been repeated over the years, to become something that has been accepted as a truth. Nowadays, we know for sure that this place seems to have been built by older civilizations to use it as a place of worship or sacrifice but everyone still call it Philip II’s Seat. Continuing the route‌ In front of the Chair of Philip II there is a small snack bar where you will take a break. The itinerary could finish here and you could return again along the same path or you could continue upwards, leaving the snack bar on the left and following the red and white marks of the GR-10 path so as to make the route a little longer. But you have to pay attention and when you arrive to a metal barrier you should leave the path and continue by the botanic path in order to go down to the starting point. During the trail, that is asphalted too, you will observe small posters that explain the characteristics of the most emblematic trees of the HerrerĂa forest. Furthermore, you will be able to see the cave of the bear where, if you make the route with children, they will want to peer for the purpose of seeing if the bear is in there! This is a quiet, simple and beautiful route that you should not miss!
Virginia Contreras. C1-A
If you are going to visit The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a must-see stop in your trip is The Valley of the Fallen. This monumental complex was built a few years after the Civil War following the designs of Pedro Muguruza and Diego Méndez. The granite cross emerging from a large pine forest in the Cuelgamuros valley, not far from the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, is the most visible feature of the complex. Not to be missed are the sculptures by Juan de Ávalos, with which the monument is decorated. The Basilica is carved into the rocky hillside. The dome that covers the crossing of the Basilica is decorated with a mosaic by Santiago Padrós. The Benedictine Abby stands behind the monument, on a broad esplanade. 33,847 people who died in the Civil War are buried in the Basilica crypts. The tomb of General Franco, Head of State between 1939 and 1975, also lies in the Basilica. The complex is owned and operated by the Spanish Governmental Heritage Agency, and ranked as the third most visited monument of the Patrimonio Nacional in 2015. This enviroment offers the visitors a solemn and stunning view in the middle of the Sierra de Guadarrama, 8 kms away from San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It will exceed your expectations! Breathtaking views!
AROUND MADRID
A project by C1 Students
VISITING SEGOVIA Segovia is a World Heritage City with unique monuments that make a visit well worthwhile. Segovia is located 90 kms from Madrid Capital and 50 Kms from Collado Villalba. You can get there by train, getting on at Villalba train station and getting off at Segovia train station, where there is a bus service to the city centre. It will take you approximately one and a half hour. For sure, you will fully enjoy everything around you.
The first stop is Azoguejo Square where you can find the Visitor Reception Centre and pick up all the information you need. Among the most important monuments in the city we should point out: 1. ACUEDUCTO DE SEGOVIA ( AQUEDUCT OF SEGOVIA) This is Segovia’s best known historical monument and the most important and best preserved example of Roman engineering on the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. Construction dates from the end of the 1st century. It measures 800 metres and at its highest point reaches 28 metres. Its 167 arches of granite stone are constituted by ashlars united without any mortar or cement and are maintained in a perfect and solid balance of forces.
2. ALCAZAR DE SEGOVIA (ALCAZAR OF SEGOVIA) Alcazar means castle as well as fortress. It is one of the most distinctive in Spain due to its unique ship bow shape. It was built in the 14th century and became particularly important in the Middle Ages as it remained one of the favourite residences of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile for its security and proximity to hunting areas. Isabella I of Castile used it as a place to start her royal procession before being proclaimed Queen in Plaza Mayor. Devastated by a fire in 1862, it was later rebuilt.
3. LA CATEDRAL (THE CATHEDRAL) Located in Plaza Mayor, this beautiful Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and is the last Gotic cathedral built in Spain. It was built in the 16th century following the destruction of the previous Roman Cathedral. It is acclaimed for both its size and beauty. Designed by Juan Gil de Hontaùón it has 105 metres long, 50 metres wide and 33 metres high in the main nave, 3 naves with adjoining chapels on each side, and has three doors.
4. CALLE REAL This is a pedestrian street which joins Plaza del Azoguejo to the Plaza Mayor. It has a lot of interesting monuments as Romanesque churches and the House of Peaks.
The City of Segovia preserved also several monasteries and convents.
Segovian Gastronomy The star of Segovian cuisine is, without doubt, roast meat, especially pork and lamb. Other typical dishes are Castellana soup and beans. The characteristic dessert is the ponche segoviano. There are a great number of restaurants as the famous Candido, but I strongly recommend Casa Hidalgo with a well balance quality-price.
Author: MARĂ?A CINTA Ă LVAREZ HERMO (C1A) Pictures by my own in a recent visit to Segovia
ONE DAY IN SEGOVIA View of Segovia
Segovia is a World Heritage City, a visit well worthwhile with unique monuments, an old Jewish quarter, stately homes, outstanding views and a green belt ideal for a pleasant stroll in the sunshine. On a warm sunny day, there are numerous terraces where you can sit and enjoy the impressive views over the monuments. When you order, make sure to order such typical dishes as roast suckling pig or milk-fed lamb Transport: There are regular bus lines & daily train services
The imposing Aqueduct.
This impressive work of engineering is still in excellent condition, forming two monumental rows of arches, one on top of the other. There is no mortar or cement between the 20,400 blocks of stone, which remain standing solidly in a perfect balance of forces. The highest point of the construction is 28.10 m high, with a total of 167 arches. The aqueduct is thought to have been built during the Flavian dynasty, from the second half of the first century to the early 2nd century CE under the Emperors Vespasian and Trajan in order to carry the water of the River Acebeda to the city.
Jewish Quarter
A short walk, peaceful and crowd free, which explores Segovia’s Jewish past providing a perspective on the ancient town missed by most visitors. Traverse the streets of the Jewish quarter, evoking the Jewish cultural legacy. The former Main Synagogue, the Jewish Quarter Visitor Centre, San AndrÊs Gate and the City Wall Museum are all visited.
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SEGOVIA CATHEDRAL
This is the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. At the highest point of the town, its construction began in the year 1525, during the reign of Carlos V. It was built after the fire in the old Romanesque cathedral in the year 1520. It measures 105 m by 50 m and stands 33 m high at the main nave. The main altarpiece is made of marble, jasper and bronze. It was consecrated in the year 1768.
ALCAZAR Fortress in Segovia
The Royal Alcazar of Segovia is a symbol of the art and the history of Spain, and one of its most visited monuments. It is, along with the aqueduct, the image of Segovia. Conceived as a fortress first, then turned into royal palace and State prison after that, but also served as Royal College of Artillery and became a military Historical Archive some time later, until today. The Royal Alcazar of Segovia is a symbol of the art and the history of Spain, and one of its most visited monuments.
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C1 students at