PLANO 2

PLAZA MAYOR
EL ALCAZAR

PLAZA MAYOR - EL ALCAZAR

Before we get to the Merced Square, we can see some interesting houses, for example, the house where the poet Antonio Machado lived when he was in Segovia which is in a side street (Desamparados). In the Merced Square it is located the convent of San José, which was founded by Santa teresa de Jesús when she was living in the city. Another Romanesque Church, San andrés, is found in this square. As we walk along Daoiz Street, we can see several houses with romanesque entrance halls. This street and Velarde Street join right in front of the Alcazar gardens. There, there is a monument to Daoiz and Velarde by Aniceto Marinas.

Visiting the Alcazar.
The second route starts from the Alcazar:

1) to the city centre (Main Square)

2) to the suburbs (San Marcos, el Parral, la Veracruz,...)

( 1) As we go back to the city centre along Velarde Street we can admire the gate of the Claustra; next we see the Fronkes gardens, named after the A,erican painter who lived in Segovia for some time; at the end of the street, there is a monument to San Juan de la Cruz. Farther on we can admire the Church of San Esteban with its Byzantine tower. The Espiscopal Palace, with Renaissance facade, is located os San Esteban Square. Walking along Travesía de Capuchinos, we can see the beautiful view of the Hercules Tower, which nowadays is a convent for Dominican nuns. On the left side we can the Tomanesque Church of San Quirce, which used to be a Popular University and now it is the School of History and Art of San Quirce. Walking along the upper part od Capuchinos Street, we reach the church of La Trinidad, which only has one nave with barrel vaul and atrium to the South, a typical designe from Segovia, Trinidad Street will take us to the Main Square, where we can have a drink.

( 2) As we go down the Paseo de San Juan de la Cruz towards San Marcos, we exit the old city by the gate of Santiago. Once we reach the river, we can go towards the poplar grove of La Alameda del Parral, where we can see the river and the Parral Monastery where the Hieronymite friars live; on Sundays, the church can be visited and Gregorian chanting can be heard.
After visiting the church we can go to ther other side of the river, where the ruins of the old Mint House are located. Founded by king Phillip II, it was the most important building in town- the river provided the energy to rum the place. There is a project to buil a museum there. As we walk down river we see the small distric of San Marcos from where we can admire the Alcazar in all its splendour. Going up the road to Zamarramala, we can see the Churchu of the Veracruz. It is Romanesque and has a polygonal design. It is believed to have been built by the Knights Templar. It offers a dantastic view of the old city with the mountain range in the background (called "The dead Woman"). Also in the district of San Marcos we find on our right the convent of San Juan de la Cruz, where the saint is buried. Next to it, there is the Virgin fuencisla's Sanctuary; she is the patron saint of the city. Inside we find the image of the Virgin and the grate that closes the presbytery, which is very big and gilded. Behind it we can see the rockwall where the rooks nest (peñas grajeras). From the bridge where the two rivers meet ew can go up the Cuesta de los Hoyos. On its right we can see some holes which are Jewish graves that date from the time of the catholic Kings. On our left ew can see the city and the Clamores river. At the end of the road we find the old hospital of the Sancti Spiritu, which nowadays houses the Military Goverment. Walking along Paseo de Ezequiel gonzález, we get to Fernández Ladreda Avenue, where an underground car park is being built to provide better services to our visitors; we can see on the left the huge church of San Millán, which has three naves, a crossing with four apses and two atriums. There are no buildings around it, so its slender shape can be easily appreciated.

Go away Plane 1

At the end of Fernández Ladreda Avenue ew get to the starting point of our route, Azoguejo Square by the Aqueduct. On the other side of this there is another square, Artillería Square, better known as Oriental Square, where the Capitoline she-wolf is located. From there we can take San Juan Street and enter the old city. The first stop is Conde Cheste Square, where we can see the most interesting ensemble of palaces in the city: Marqués the Quintanar Palace, Conde Cheste Palace. Going down Travesía del Conde Cheste we get to a place known as Los Zuloagas, because the Zuloaga Museum is in the church of San Juan de los Caballeros. From here we can see the district of San Lorenzo and the Parador de Turismo, where our route ends.

I hope you have enjoyed the visit and have learned some things about Segovia, so you can love it as much as I do.