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Segovia Aqueduct and Cathedral

Aqueduct at Segovia – Photos and Transport Information

May 30, 2013 By Jan Robinson 27 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


When I first glimpsed a photo of the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, I knew we had to visit on our April 2012 trip to Spain.  There were two days available for day trips from MADRID and we chose Segovia (because I just had to) and Toledo.  The other place we really wanted to see was the town of Salamanca.  I still lament that we had to fore-go that beautiful city that came with such glowing recommendations, but I do not, for one moment regret going to Segovia.

You know how sometimes photos are misleading and when you finally set eyes on the real thing it disappoints?

This was not one of those times.

Through the Aqueduct to the Cathedral in the Old City

Segovia Aquaduct

A closer view of the Cathedral through the Aqueduct.

Segovia Aqueduct and Cathedral

Backtracking to the aqueduct’s lowest point.

Aquaduct from Far End

 

Segovia Far End of Aqueduct

Segovia Nearing the End

Nearly everyone (myself included) refers to the bridge as the aqueduct, but the huge arches are actually the bridge that carries the aqueduct.

This photo shows the aqueduct where it first joins the bridge.

Beginning of Aqueduct Bridge

What is really amazing about this structure built in 50AD is that the huge granite blocks that make the 166 arches are held together without cement or mortar.  Built by the Romans, it is held together by balancing forces alone.

Impressive – The View on Arrival

Segovia The View Aqueduct

Looking up 30 metres up from Azoguejo Square to the Aqueduct bridge.

Lookling Up from Azoguejo Square to the aqueduct bridge

The old town and the aqueduct bridge became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985.

Also referred to as “Puente de Diablo” or Devil’s Bridge, legend says Lucifer built the bridge in one single night, in order to win a young woman’s soul. Lacking the final stone when dawn came he failed to win, but the bridge remained.  Tradition says the holes visible on the stones are marks from the devil’s fingers. I did wonder about those holes …

It is only the last 800 m of aqueduct that is on display.
The other 15km is mostly buried underground.
The source of water was a tiny stream in Sierra de Guadarrama.
After the bridge ends and the aqueduct reaches the city wall it again becomes buried.
The final stop for the aqueduct is the Segovia Alcazar.
The aqueduct ceased supplying the town’s water, in the mid 19th Century.

Arrival and Budget Travel Information

We took the AVE fast train from Chamartin Station in Madrid.  It took quite a while to reach Chamartin by metro from La Latina our suburb in Madrid.  The fast train took half an hour but what we did not realize was that the Segovia AVE station is 7km from the old town of Segovia.  The train was fast, clean, with lay back seats.  Views were not great because of the long tunnels. Your seat may also be facing backwards.  Bus No. 11 was waiting to transport us (1 Euro) from the AVE station to the old city, but we had to stand.  When booking your AVE ticket you must choose a return time slot.  It is always hard to gauge when you have not been before, but we spent 4 delightful hours without viewing the Cathedral which was not open.

This is the RENFE AVE BOOKING SITE Choose Purchase, then insert Madrid Chamartin as Departure Point and Segovia AV as Arrival Point.  Book as a return trip and it costs 10 Euro each way.

The second option is the Slow train (approx. 2 hours) that leaves from Madrid Atocha Cercanias station and arrives at a different Segovia train station than the fast train – about 1km from the old city.  Segovia Bus 8 connects.

Use the same Renfe Site, but Choose Departure Point of Madrid Atocha Cercanias and Arrival Point of Segovia *.  The 8.30 am train is the fastest at 1 hour 45 minutes and costs at costs 6.35 Euro each way.  Further 2 hourly departures cost the same but take 13 minutes longer.

Or you can be like us and just arrive and purchase tickets on the spot.

The bus takes 1 hour 15 minutes from Madrid’s Principe Pio to Segovia.  The bonus is it arrives only 300m away from the action in the old city of Segovia and has better Views than the train.  Principe Pio is a metro station as well.

BUS TIMETABLES AND PRICES 8.09 Euro Out and 6.45 Euro back.  On arrival in Segovia get your return ticket validated.

THIS POST FORMS PART OF BUDGET TRAVELERS SANDBOX’S TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

 

 

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Filed Under: Destination, Experience, Spain

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Muza-chan

    May 30, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    As always, I’m captivated by your images.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 30, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      Thank you Muza-chan 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lisa Wood

    May 30, 2013 at 8:12 pm

    Jan, have you ever thought about putting your photos into a book? They are really good!
    I love how you take angles of the places you have been to – The one where you say “View on Arrival” is stunning. You have a great eye for capturing the moment and such great detail to colours.
    Oh and are you on Instagram? Would love to follow you there.
    Its incredible how they used to make buildings back in 50AD. Don’t build them to make them last anymore. Love the look of Segovia.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:49 am

      It truly is amazing that the aqueduct is still standing so perfectly. I have though of a book Lisa, but I would never be able to choose!

      Reply
  3. Tonya @ The Traveling Praters

    May 30, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    You always have great pictures, but I really love these. I am continually amazed by the beauty of the old world structures in Europe.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:48 am

      Australia also is such a young country as far as European Settlement goes, that it is truly amazing for us to contemplate such antiquity!

      Reply
  4. Leigh

    May 30, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    I am in awe of structures like these – not only for their beauty but because of how they were built without mortar. So worth the trip.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:47 am

      It was wonderful to see. I was sorry to miss Salamanca though!

      Reply
  5. Jackie Smith

    May 30, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Makes me want to go visit it myself. What an amazing structure.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:46 am

      And it is just so perfect and grand 🙂

      Reply
  6. Cathy Sweeney

    May 31, 2013 at 12:43 am

    The aqueduct is amazing and your photos really capture it. I love the back story, too.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:45 am

      How amazing that it is still around after nearly 2000 years and with a story to tell.

      Reply
  7. Marisol

    May 31, 2013 at 1:31 am

    Hi Jan, I haven’t been to Segovia but I know about the aquaduct. It’s so much more impressive than I thought and I didn’t realize it was that old. Love your shots – your angles captured the grandeur of the bridges/aquaduct.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 31, 2013 at 11:45 am

      Thanks Marisol, It is truly impressive that it is still standing in such fantastic form.

      Reply
  8. Sophie

    May 31, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    I used to work for the Norwegian government, and once when we had a meeting with our colleagues in Spain, they wanted to show us somewhere very special and took us to Segovia. It was wonderful.

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 1, 2013 at 8:58 am

      Oh that is nice Sophie – that even the Spanish think it is special 🙂

      Reply
  9. Dana Carmel @ Time Travel Plans

    June 3, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Stunning images! I’ve seen a few aqueducts during my travels, but so far, none as stunning as this one.

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 3, 2013 at 3:18 pm

      I am going to start finding others now!

      Reply
  10. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

    June 5, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    Now I want to go! Beautiful photos. The aqueduct in Penang, Malaysia is much more boring.

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 6, 2013 at 9:06 am

      Ha Ha Michele – Only because you live there!

      Reply
  11. Freya

    June 9, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    Great shots ! I will be in Madrid in a couple of weeks time, I definitely want to try to visit Segovia now with its beautiful aqueduct.

    Reply
    • Jan

      June 10, 2013 at 6:51 pm

      It is an amazing sight!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fantastic Friday: An Unexpected View in Segovia says:
    May 31, 2013 at 11:38 am

    […] we visit a town for one big reason, like to see the amazing ROMAN AQUEDUCT and Bridge in Segovia, Spain, we inevitably turn away from the splendour, looking for another […]

    Reply

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