EspañolROUTES AROUND PROVINCE
Walking around the province of Segovia we are going to discover a lot of landscapes: the countryside, Tierra de Pinares and the mountains.
1.- THE ROYAL PALACES OF LA GRANJA
Just about 11 kilometers from Segovia, in the small village of La Granja de San Ildefonso, at the feet of Guadarrama mountain, The Royal Palace of La Granja is located, which was the summer residence of the Royal Family. IT was built by the Spanish king Philip V and his second wife Isabelle of Farnese. We can discover the palace, the gardens and the fountains. —-in the same village we can visit the Royal Glass Factory. Not too far from San Ildefonso, there is another monument, The Royal Palace of Riofrio, constructed by the queen Isabelle of Farnese.
2.- SEPULVEDA, PEDRAZA AND THE HOCES DEL DURATON
Entering the province of Segovia, we can find small medieval villages. Pedraza is known for its arcaded main square, its castle, bought by the painter Ignacio Zuloaga 100 years ago. We can highlight its city wall and its unique entrance gate. Sepúlveda show us its medieval past and preserves the best examples of Romanesque art in the province. From Sepúlveda, we go to Hoces del Duratón Natural Park, where we can discover different species as the griffon vulture. The San Frutos Hermitage is a must.
3.- THE FORTRESS ROUTE.
Throughout the province of Segovia, we can find many fortress and castles. In Cuéllar, in the middle of Tierra de Pinares, we can visit its castle, its walls and a big variety of churches, built in Mudejar style, where the brick is the main protagonist. The castle of Coca, it is also a spectacular example of Mudejar architecture. Turegano has also a castle. Inside the castle we can find a Romanesque church.
4.- RIAZA, AYLLON AND THE RED AND BLACK VILLAGES.
In the surroundings of Ayllón Mountains we can enjoy different landscapes. In Riaza we can admire its marvelous arcaded main Square. From here, in autumn, we can visit the spectacular beech grove of La Pedrosa with charming colors. Ayllón offers us another example of popular architecture. One of the best experiences, visiting the province is to discover the red villages as Madriguera and Alquité, called like this because of the color of their houses, and the black villages like El Muyo, built out of slates.