Madrid one more time 4

Cobbled streets lead away from Segovia's cathedral for our third and final destination of the day, the alcazar or town castle. All of Segovia's old town sits atop a lump of rock which narrows towards the western tip. Separated by the town by a deep chasm and overlooking a river, this strategic site has been fortified at least since Roman times over 2000 years ago.
 
Probably the most significant occupants here were the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile. It was in Segovia that Queen Isabella I was crowned, who later helped finance the voyages of Christopher Columbus. After the royal court left, the alcazar became a prison.

The stone fortress that now greets visitors is a fairly recent structure and a rather fanciful one at that. In 1862, a devastating fire within the castle burned for three days, leaving a shell that took decades to restore. The castle eventually re-opened as a military academy.
 
The history of the castle makes little impact on visitors today. Instead, it is known for its beautiful chambers and stunning views. The ceilings in several rooms are remarkable.

In the less ornate rooms, visitors are drawn to the windows or out onto the battlements.
 
Aside from an armoury, there isn't much on display about the building's history as a strategic fortress.

Climbing one of the towers rewards visitors with even more far-ranging vistas, including the postcard view of the skyline.

The castle is surrounded by gardens. Here is a bird's eye view down.

Other points of interest like a monastery and this ancient church beckon nearby, but according to my watch it's time to catch the bus back to the station.

Click back next time for some more photos from Segovia, plus some practical tips on making the trip from Madrid.