Day trip to Avila & Segovia

Although Madrid has much to offer, occasionally it’s fun to venture off to other cities to get a feel for the countryside. We signed up with a local tour company to visit Avila & Segovia so we could benefit from a guide who knew the sites and would make the best use of our time. It’s also about a 2hr drive from Madrid and none of us wanted to attempt that!

Avila is an ancient walled-city dating back before Roman times. It became part of what was known as “Roman Lusitania” which was an ancient Iberian province that included Portugal and part of western Spain. The city, known as Abula or Avela, fell to the Moors around 714AD and remained under their rule for about 300 years.

Other historic landmarks include, wait for it, yes….a cathedral built in the 13-15^th century; a convent containing tombs of the first grand inquisitor of Spain and a lad known as Don Juan; and probably the most visited site, the Incarnation convent, built on the birthplace of Saint Teresa.

Incarnation convent

One curiosity around the city is strange, carved stone animals that resemble boars, bulls, cows or pigs.  These “verracos” can be found incorporated into the walls or free-standing, throughout the city.

The next stop on our tour was the city of Segovia. Segovia was also a city of Roman origin and still has an excellent two-tiered aqueduct standing in the town center. The aqueduct was built around 50BC and is approximately 2700 feet long, and at the lowest point, about 90’ tall.  Water still flows through this aqueduct today!

And yes, there are other sites we will visit, the Alcazar, built around 11 century AD; Old Town with it’s neighborhoods laid out according to social structure; and possibly, just possibly, a cathedral.

A little more about the Alcazar. From outside, the Alcazar resembles a Disney-like castle with spires, towers, posterns, walled gardens and of course, a moat with drawbridge. Originally built as a defensive site around the 12^th century, the Alcazar has been enlarged and transformed from a fortress, to a palace, to a military college and today, a tourist attraction.

 

Nice day, fairly good weather with just a little rain and cool temps in the high 50’s. Best part, didn’t have to drive!

Almost forgot, the cathedral…. mid-16th century Gothic style, Roman Catholic.