Segovia

Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Segovia in Castile and Leon. It is situated north of Madrid, and can be reached by bullet train in 35 minutes from Madrid at . 55,586 people live in the municipality of Segovia.

Name

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

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 Martín, and San Millán. 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 21st century.

Climate and vegetation

The climate is continental Mediterranean, cold and dry, resulting from high altitude, its proximity to the central system and their distance from the coast. The average annual temperature is 12º C, with a minimum in December of -14º C and a maximum in July of 34º C. The annual precipitation is 520 mm. The predominant vegetation is black pine, stone pine, Scotch pine, oak, beech, broom and juniper, oak, with landscapes of wheat, stubble and fallowing.

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 AD 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.

Alcazar Castle

The Alcázar, or castle-palace is perched at the tip of the promontory and towers over the countryside below. Like many fortifications in Spain, it started off as an Arab fort. At the end of the 11th century it was conquered by king Alfonso VI. During the Middle Ages, the Alcazar of Segovia was the favourite 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.

Cathedral

The Cathedral of Segovia stands in the city's central plaza. Constructed by architect Juan Gil de Hontañon in the late Gothic style between 1522 and 1577, it is widely considered Europe's last . The kind of is called Isabelino. [[wikipedia:File:La-catedral-de-Segovia-desde-el-aire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Segovia Cathedral as seen from the air.]]

Church of Vera Cruz

The church of Vera Cruz, beyond the Alcázar 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.

Jewish heritage

Segovia had a thriving Jewish community until its forced expulsion during the 15th century (after the Christians reconquered Spain and put an end to Muslim rule). Some traces of Segovia's Jewish community still remain, such as the old quarter (Judería), a museum and the old main synagogue.

Demography

[[wikipedia:File:Catedral_de_Segovia.jpg|thumb|270px|The Segovia Cathedral (at night), created between 1522 and 1577.]]

Twin Cities

• Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, since 1985.
• Marysville, Ohio, United States, since 2001.
• Tucson, Arizona, United States.

Famous Segovians

• Don Abraham Senior Coronel[1]
• Juan Bravo
• Pedro Delgado
• Nicomedes García
• Andrés Laguna
• Cándido Lopez (Mesonero Mayor de Castilla)
• Aniceto Marinas
• Manuel Pérez Brunicardi
• Cayetano Redondo Aceña
• Florentino Trapero
• Benjamín Yeo la Tercera

External links

• Ayuntamiento de Segovia (New web)
• Comprehensive English Segovia visitor guide
• Ven a Segovia - Visit Segovia (New web - Under construction)
• Información sobre Segovia y Provincia - Information about Segovia (New web)
• Photos of Avila and Segovia
• Information and Photos of Segovia
• Information, visitors guide and Photos of Segovia ENG
• Livius.org: Aqueduct of Segovia - pics
• Hotel Parador de Segovia ****. Video, photos, facilities
• Segovia: A Tale of Two Cities by The Guardian

thumb|none|260px|General view of the Monastery of El Parral, founded in 1447.

Gallery

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ar:شقوبية

an:Segobia ast:Segovia bg:Сеговия (град) ca:Segòvia cs:Segovia cy:Segovia de:Segovia el:Σεγκόβια es:Segovia eo:Segovio eu:Segovia fa:سگوبیا fr:Ségovie gl:Segovia hi:सेगोविआ hr:Segovia id:Segovia is:Segóvía it:Segovia he:סגוביה jv:Segovia ka:სეგოვია la:Segovia hu:Segovia nah:Segovia nl:Segovia (stad) ja:セゴビア no:Segovia nn:Segovia oc:Segòvia pl:Segowia pt:Segóvia ro:Segovia ru:Сеговия sl:Segovia sr:Сеговија fi:Segovia sv:Segovia th:เซโกเบีย tr:Segovia zh:塞哥维亚

Categories: Buildings | Buildings in | Buildings in , | UNESCO World Heritage Sites | UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe and North America | UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain