Roman arches, a castle on the rock, the last Gothic cathedral
Segovia's old town is a narrow ridge from the Aqueduct to the Alcázar, about half an hour on foot. Park at one end and walk to the other.
1. Start at the Aqueduct
The Aqueduct has 167 arches of unmortared granite and stands 28.5 m at its highest. Thirty-six arches were rebuilt in the 15th century. It's free, and I'd see it twice: morning and dusk.
2. Pay the extra for the tower
The Alcázar charges €10 for palace, museum and the Juan II tower. The palace burnt in 1862 and was rebuilt. EU citizens get the palace free on Tuesdays 14:00–16:00.
3. See Spain's last Gothic cathedral
UNESCO calls the cathedral the last built in Spain in the Gothic style. General entry is €4. Go before the Alcázar; it's on the way.
4. Walk through the Judería
The Centro Didáctico de la Judería is in the former house of Abraham Seneor, and the old main synagogue is now the Corpus Christi church. Entry is €3, free on non-holiday Wednesdays.
5. Walk down to the Mint
UNESCO calls the Real Casa de Moneda the oldest industrial building still standing in Spain. I'd give it an hour.
6. Climb onto the walls
The Puerta de San Andrés gate has a small walls exhibition: €2, free on non-holiday Wednesdays, mornings only.
Suckling pig cut with a plate, and judiones from La Granja
1. Watch the plate trick
Cochinillo, roast suckling pig, is carved with the edge of a plate to show how tender it is. Mesón de Cándido, under the Aqueduct, is credited as a pioneer of the gesture.
2. Eat at José María for less theatre
Restaurante José María was founded by José María Ruiz in 1982. I'd book there for the pig without the crowd at the arches.
3. Order judiones
Judiones de La Granja are giant white beans stewed with chorizo and morcilla. One plate is lunch.
4. Finish with ponche segoviano
Ponche is sponge cake with cream under a toasted marzipan top. For the pig in a family house, Casa Duque has been open since 1895.
June feasts and a free Holy Week kerb
1. Wait for the June dates
The Fiestas de San Juan y San Pedro fill late June and go back to the 15th century. The 2027 dates weren't published when I checked.
2. Check the Holy Week notice
In 2023 the city made the ORA free on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and from 14:00 on Saturday. The 2027 arrangement isn't out yet; I'd look for the notice before parking at the kerb.
Either way the old town fills, and I'd park on the Hoyos road.
What's on
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Late June 2027, dates not yet published | Fiestas de San Juan y San Pedro, the city's summer feasts, held since the 15th century |
| Holy Week 2027, ORA arrangements not yet published | In 2023 the city made the ORA free on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and from 14:00 on Saturday; check the 2027 notice |