Segovia is symbolic of a complex, historical reality. Its neighbourhoods, streets, and houses are laid out in accordance with a social structure in which hierarchy was organized and dominated by belonging to one of the different cultural communities. Moors, Christians, and Jews coexisted for a long period of time in the medieval city and worked together during the 16th century manufacturing boom. (whc.unesco.org)
One of the most unusual houses in Spain: House of the Picos in Segovia.
The building belonged to Juan de la Hoz who added to the renaissance facade the diamond shaped turrets to change the character of the house that was known as the casa del judio (the Jew’s house).
The Cathedral in Segovia is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is one of last Gothic cathedrals built in Spain and Europe. It was built in the mid-sixteenth century, when in most of Europe, Renaissance architecture was the new standard.
And now the alcazar:
The Alcázar of Segovia, like many fortifications in Spain, started off as an Arab fort, which itself was built on a Roman fort but little of that structure remains.
It was built in the mudejar style: for Christian kings by Moorish craftsmen.
The Alcázar, throughout the Middle Ages, remained one of the favorite residences of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile and a key fortress in the defence of the kingdom. It was during this period a majority of the current building was constructed and the palace was extended on a large scale by the monarchs of the Trastámara dynasty.
In 1474, the Alcázar played a major role in the rise of Queen Isabella I. On 12 December news of the King Henry IV’s death in Madrid reached Segovia and Isabella immediately took refuge within the walls of this Alcázar where she received the support of Andres Cabrera and Segovia’s council. She was enthroned the next day as Queen of Castile and León.
Many of these decorations are not original, they were brought here from other places.
Los Reyes Catolicos, the Catholic Kings – Isabella and Ferdinand and St. James the Moorslayer,
This is today’s Segovia.
