Alcázar of Segovia
The Alcazar in Segovia is a palace and fortress located in the Spanish city of Segovia. This majestic castle stands on a cliff at the confluence of two rivers. Its huge structure with towers resembling the masts of ships is reflected in the waters of the rivers of Erezma and Klamores. It means "fortress" in Arabic.
The castle was first mentioned in the 12th century, it was a wooden fortress. Later it was rebuilt into a stone castle with strong defensive walls. It is connected to the river and some urban structures by underground passages.
Throughout the period, the Alcazar in Segovia has changed its purpose several times – first as a fortress, then as a royal palace, the state prison, the Royal Artillery Academy and the museum today.
In the Middle Ages, it was a favorite place of the kings of Castile, where the most important events in their lives were celebrated, such as the coronation of Isabella the Catholic and her wedding. In the 16th century, when Philip II ruled, borrowing from Central Europe, the castle took on a fabulous appearance. At this time, the apartments of the palace were significantly expanded. The castle's structure was shaped during the reign of the royal dynasty, resulting in a variety of styles in the interior.
In the 19th century, a fire broke out, and considerable efforts were made to carry out restoration work.
Nowadays, the Alcazar Museum has 11 halls open to the public, where you can view antique exhibits, antique furniture, a collection of weapons and knight's armor, stained glass windows and paintings.
You can visit the chapel, as well as the highest point of the castle, the Juan II Tower, which overlooks the adjacent park, the territory of neighboring villages and the Guadarrama Mountains.
The most popular room in the Alcazar is the Throne Room, decorated in a Moorish style with red and purple flowers. There is a throne in its center. No less important is the Royal Hall. There is a collection of portraits of the royal dynasty under the ceiling. The most significant events took place here. An interesting room is the Galley Hall, which is shaped like an overturned ship. The collection of weapons is collected in the next room. In the Cord room, the main decoration element is the Franciscan cord. The hall of cones got its name from the decorated ceiling in the form of cones.
The Alcazar is the main attraction of Segovia and the hallmark of Spain.
