Segovia, Spain
Airing Date: Sep 8th, 2007
Segovia is the capital of the province of the same name, and is part of the Autonomous Region of Castile-Leon. It is located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula near Valladolid, the capital of the region, and Madrid, the national capital, which makes it easy to reach.
Segovia has some of the most beautiful monuments Spain, and is very multicultural as it has inherited the mixture of Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures. It has twisting alleyways, the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe, pedestrian streets where no cars are allowed, and it is all surrounded by the city's medieval wall which itself is bordered by two rivers.
On the north-western extreme of the wall is the famous Alczar castle, rukoured to have been a source of inspiration to Walt Disney for the design of his Sleeping Beauty castle. It is also where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed to discover America. On the southeast extreme is the world-renowned Roman Aqueduct, the largest and best preserved of its kind anywhere, which served as the mintmark on all coins struck in the city from 1455 to 1864.
The tallest building in Segovia is the 16th-century Cathedral, and is the last major gothic building in Spain, and, arguably the last in Europe. Construction on it began in 1525, but it wasn't completed for another 200 years!
FURTHER INFROMATION-
Thai Airways International fly return to Madrid- From $1785 ex west coast; $1860 ex east coast. For further information, visit
www.thaiairways.com.au Prices correct at 8/8/07. Prices available online and include surcharges, fees & taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Hotel Plaza Acueducto- Double room from $120 a person twin share. Includes breakfast. For more information, visit:
www.tempoholidays.comor call:
1300 558 987or book through any travel agent. Prices correct at 10/8/07
Prices include surcharges, fees & taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Tempo Holidays- Segovia and Avila full day trip from: $123 a person. For more information, visit:
www.tempoholidays.com or call
1300 558 987For more information on Spain, go to the official Spain Tourism Board website:
www.spain.info
