Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct

The Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct centre on a major Roman hydraulic monument and a compact medieval historic core in Castile and León, Spain; the aqueduct is a prominent Roman legacy within the urban fabric. The ensemble also includes the Alcázar fortress and the late Gothic cathedral.

The aqueduct runs through the lower part of the city and remains visible as a continuous arcade of dressed stone; the medieval old town climbs the hill above it to the Alcázar and cathedral. Tour routes commonly link the aqueduct, Plaza Mayor, cathedral and the hilltop fortress in a single circuit.

The aqueduct was built during the Roman Imperial period to supply water to the settlement later known as Segovia. The Alcázar originated as a medieval castle and became a royal palace and fortress, while the cathedral was constructed in the late Gothic period and completed in the 16th century.

Segovia lies in central-northern Spain, in Castile and León, approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Madrid; the historic core sits on a rocky ridge above the surrounding plain.

• Aqueduct viewpoint: The Roman aqueduct is carried on a long arcade of dressed granite blocks and reaches its greatest height at the Plaza del Azoguejo, making it highly photogenic at sunrise and sunset.

What to See #

• Roman Aqueduct: A Roman aqueduct running through the city centre with a visible arcade that marks the urban axis; the stretch through the town is one of the best-preserved Roman aqueduct sections in the Iberian Peninsula.
• Alcázar of Segovia: A medieval hilltop fortress-palace with distinctive turrets that dominates the city skyline and served as a royal residence and military stronghold.
• Segovia Cathedral: The large late Gothic cathedral located on the main Plaza Mayor, completed in the 16th century and notable for its vertical proportions and later Renaissance additions.