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 |