Segovia. Occupied by the Romans in 80 BC, housed the royal residence in the 15th century during the reign of Queen Isabel, and has an Alcazar which inspired Walt Disney to design California Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle.
If you're looking for a day trip out of Madrid, you must put Segovia on your list. The aqueduct alone is worth the trip. It is the most awe inspiring structure located in the heart of the city. Built in the 1st century AD, the Acueducto is ENORMOUS. 862 meters long, reaching up to 28 meters high, with 163 arches. When it was built, there was not a drop of mortar holding the over 20,000 blocks of uneven granite. That is serious ingenuity, engineering, and labor.
And, of course, you can't go to Segovia and not eat. You can't go, and not eat the cochinillo asado. The region's specialty roasted baby pig. It sounds horrible that it's a baby pig. But, seriously, this is one of the best things I've ever eaten - and I'm from the Philippines. We have a lot of lechon and cochinillo over here.
Right next to the aqueduct is
Mesón de Cándido. Run by family generations and hailed by celebrities and chefs from around the world. This is the place to go to really enjoy this region's perfection for cooking cochinillo.
Here's a short clip of the plate cutting ceremony for our Segovian cochinillo. Yes, it's so ridiculously tender, it's cut with a plate:
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| Segovia's Acueducto |
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| Steps up for more perspectives of the aqueduct and the town |
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| The view from inside the town (Mesón Cándido is first building in the corner) |
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| Getting an idea of the magnitude of the aqueduct |
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| The human size by the blocks holding up the aqueduct |
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| Mesón de Cándido, located right next to the aqueduct |
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| A portion of their infamous cochinillo |
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| And if you're extra hungry, the roast lamb leg is another must |
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