Segovia was founded by the Celts around the year 700 BC. It was conquered and destroyed by the Romans around 80 BC. The Romans rebuilt the city and it soon became one of the most important imperial cities in the Iberian Peninsula.
Because Segovia was a Roman military base and needed water, Emperor Trajan had his engineers build a nine-mile aqueduct. It began at the Rio Acebeda and channeled water to the city, ending at the Roman castle.
The Segovia Cathedral was built between 1525-1768, when the Renaissance style was already predominant in Spain. This was Spain's last major Gothic building. It has been named "Lady of Spanish Cathedrals."
The Segovia Alcazar is perched on a rocky ledge where it overlooks all the passes into the valley. We don't know when it was founded, but there has always existed a fortress here since the time of the Roman domination.
This palace was a favorite residence of the monarchs of Castile during the Middle Ages. Alfonso VI began to add extensions to the Alcazar. In 1256, part of the building collapsed but was later reconstructed. It has grown through the ages and its function has changed many times. Besides being a palace, it was a prison for 200 years, and then the Royal Artillery School. There was also a fire in 1862.
The last restoration took place in 1940. It had now recouped all its past grandeur and architectural splendor. It is now serves as a museum.
