Page 371 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

C ASTILLA Y LEÓN  369

Segovia’s Aqueduct Water channel Slots used to support Arches reach a maximum
blocks of ashlar height of 29 m (95 ft).

Water from the Río Frío flowed into Two tiers of arches – a total of 728 m In this niche a statue of the Virgin Mary
the city, filtered through a series of (2,400 ft) in length – were needed to replaces an earlier inscription relating to
tanks along the way. cope with the ground’s gradient. the founding of the aqueduct.
shows some of his works. On i Castillo de Coca
the first and second Saturdays Coca, Segovia. Tel 617 57 35 54.
in July, concerts are held in Open daily. Closed 15 days in Jan,
Plaza Mayor. 1st Tue of each month. & 8
Environs Built in the late 15th century for
The main sight at Turégano, the influential Fonseca family,
30 km (19 miles) west, is a large Coca castle is one of Castilla y
hilltop castle with the 15th- León’s most memorable fort-
century Iglesia de San Miguel. resses. It was used more as
a residential palace than a
defensive castle, although its
u Sepúlveda turrets and battlements are a
fine example of Mudéjar military
Segovia. * 1,300. n C/ Santos Justo architecture. The complex
y Pastor 8, 921 54 04 25 (closed Mon
Jul–Sep; Mon, Tue Oct–Jun). ( Wed. moated structure comprises
Segovia’s distinctive Alcázar, towering _ Los Toros (last week of Aug). three concentric walls around
over the city a massive keep. It is now a
On a slope above the Río forestry school, with a display
+ Alcázar de Segovia Duratón, this picturesque town of Romanesque woodcarvings.
Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia. offers views of the Sierra de
Tel 921 46 07 59. Open daily. Closed Guadarrama. Parts of its medieval Environs
1 & 6 Jan, 24 & 25 Dec. & (free for EU walls and castle survive. Of its The 14th-century castle of
residents 3rd Tue of each month). several Romanesque churches, Arévalo in Avila, 26 km (16 miles)
7 8 ∑ alcazardesegovia.com
the Iglesia del Salvador, behind southwest, is where Isabel I
P Palacio de Riofrío the main square, is notable for spent her childhood. The
Tel 921 47 00 19. Open Tue–Sun. possessing one of the oldest porticoed Plaza de la Villa is
& (free for EU res Wed pm & Thu pm). atria in Spain (1093). surrounded by some attractive
∑ patrimonionacional.es half-timbered houses.
Environs
Winding through a canyon
y Pedraza de haunted by griffon vultures is
la Sierra the Río Duratón, 7 km (4 miles)
west of Sepúlveda. This area
Segovia. * 500. n C/ Real 3, 921 50 of striking beauty has been
86 66 (closed Mon & Tue). _ Nuestra designated the Parque Natural
Señora la Virgen del Carrascal (8 Sep). de las Hoces del Duratón.
Ayllón, 45 km (28 miles)
The aristocratic little town of northeast of Sepúlveda, has an
Pedraza de la Sierra is perched arcaded main square and the
high over rolling countryside. Plateresque (see p29) Palacio
Within its medieval walls, old de Juan de Contreras of 1497.
streets lead to the porticoed The Iberian and Roman ruins
Plaza Mayor (see p31). The huge at Tiermes, 28 km (17 miles)
castle, standing on a rocky further southeast, have been
outcrop, was owned by Basque partially excavated, and finds
artist Ignacio Zuloaga (1870– can be seen in Soria’s Museo Massive keep of the 15th-century
1945). The castle museum Numantino (see p381). Castillo de Coca

368-369_EW_Spain.indd 369 26/09/17 11:54 am