World Heritage Sites In Spain Segovia

L isted as a UNESCO World          over 20,000 stone blocks and is    Heritage Site in 1985 the       held together only by gravity and  old city of Segovia and its     the precision placement of         magnificent aqueduct can be found     keystones along its 163 arches.    high up in the Sierra de              This amazing feat of engineering   Guadarrama Mountains, about an        is all the more remarkable when    hour's drive north of Madrid. It      it is considered that the          is an architectural time capsule      aqueduct has remained intact       spanning more than 2000 years of      despite being subjected to storms  history. From the Romans, through     and earthquakes for some 2000      the Knights Templars to the           years!                             Renaissance Period, each has left                                        their mark on Segovia, shaping        Following the line of the Roman    the city into the grand gallery       aqueduct brings visitors to the    of buildings and monuments that       medieval pièce de résistance -   make it such a favored attraction     the 11th century Alcazar. The      today.                                turreted castle, which takes on                                          the form of a ship, has been a     The earliest piece of substantial     residence of kings and queens      architecture in protected Segovia     down the ages. Set high upon a     is arguably its most impressive -     rocky outcrop the Alcazar is an    the double-arched Roman Aqueduct.     explorers' paradise too, the       Standing tall at over 100ft above     castle possessing a multitude of   the ground the aqueduct dates         underground passageways that       back to the 1st Century AD, and       connect it with the river and      was built to channel running          other buildings in the city.       water to the higher parts of                                             town, and most importantly to the     The 16th Century Gothic cathedral  site of Segovia's Roman military      and the Church of Veracruz are     headquarters. It is composed of       also not to be missed on a visit   to Segovia during the day. By                                            nightfall, Segovia takes on a         Segovia is easily accessible by    different atmosphere. Open air        road from Madrid. The A6 should    restaurants, music and the sounds     be taken northwards from Madrid    of street theater fill the air.       airport until exit 60 is reached.  The city is an addictive cocktail     From here take route 603           of medieval adventure and romance     northeastwards into Segovia. Car   that makes it difficult to leave.     hire can be booked in advance for                                        pick up at Madrid airport via                                            http://www.your-carhire.com        Getting to Segovia                    About the Author: Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com Source: www.isnare.com