Trip from Madrid North to the Valley of the Fallen Valle de Los Caidos and Segovia
Madrid is a fascinating and popular city with many direct flights from Tel Aviv. In addition to being a destination in its own right for a successful city break ( and shopping...) it is also a stopover destination for those flying to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and even North America.
Those who have explored what the city has to offer are invited to head out to one of the cities, towns, and tourist sites located about an hour to an hour and a half north of Madrid, especially the ancient and beautiful city of Segovia and the dramatic Valley of the Fallen.
These destinations, suitable for a day trip from Madrid, can also serve as a stop on the way to the Basque Country in northern Spain.
For those who have time, it is recommended to dedicate two full days to the area with a night or two in Segovia or one of the surrounding towns.
Segovia is a fairly small city with just over 50,000 residents where it is easy and comfortable to tour its ancient center on foot. It was declared in 1985 by UNESCO as a World Heritage site thanks to three sites located within it: the Cathedral, the Alcazar, and the Aqueduct, all in the heart of the walled old city whose center features a huge cathedral and plenty of narrow, winding streets brimming with cafes, restaurants, tapas bars, and shops. In the small, ancient alleys, you can see the town's houses famous for their unique plaster technique.
Location and Transportation
Segovia is located about 90 km northwest of Madrid (about an hour's drive without traffic). The Valley of the Fallen is located about 55 km northwest of Madrid (about a 40-minute drive) on the way to Segovia (visiting it extends the drive to Segovia by about 10 km, a quarter-hour drive).
The nearest airport is, of course, Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (about 100 km from Segovia).
The most successful way to tour Segovia and its surroundings is by a rental car rented at the Madrid airport or in the city itself at the end of the trip there (in Madrid itself it is better to be without a car), which will allow visiting multiple destinations and stopping along the way (including shopping at an outlet north of Madrid, details below).
However, Segovia can also be reached by train or bus from Madrid. The train is the fastest option: 32 days... [32 minutes]. Timchedules and ticket bookings on the website: https://www.renfe.com/es/en
The bus company is called Alsa Bus and the bus departs from the central station: Madrid Moncloa. Although the travel time is longer, the station is in a more central location in the city compared to the train stations.
Weather and When to Visit
Segovia can be visited during all months of the year, but the most successful seasons are spring and autumn, when temperatures are comfortable and precipitation is low. The hottest months are July and August where the average maximum temperature is 28-29 degrees Celsius, but the nights are pleasant with temperatures of only about 14 degrees. Humidity is low, which eases the heat load. The coldest months are December and January with a maximum temperature of 7-8 degrees Celsius and only 1-2 degrees above zero at night. Rain can fall in all months of the year, but the months with the highest number of rainy days are October through January, and in summer there are at most 2-3 rainy days.
Accommodation Recommendations in Segovia Segovia
A quality 5-star hotel located in the heart of the old city of Segovia in a historic building that previously served as a monastery. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, a spa with a hammam and sauna, beautiful gardens, a bar, and a restaurant.
Free internet. Parking at an additional cost.
A modern 4-star hotel in central Segovia opposite Segovia's famous aqueduct. The hotel features a fitness room.
Free internet. Parking at an additional cost.
A 4-star hotel in the heart of Segovia between the cathedral and the aqueduct. The hotel features a bar and restaurant. It has double rooms as well as family rooms for four people. Free internet. Parking at an additional cost.
A historic hotel with modern design rated 4 stars, located in an ancient castle. Positioned north of Segovia's old city a short drive away. The hotel features 2 swimming pools: one outdoor and one indoor, a spa, beautiful gardens, a bar, and a restaurant. The hotel overlooks a wonderful view of Segovia and the surrounding mountains.
Free internet and parking.
A quality apartment hotel featuring 1-bedroom and living room apartments and 2-bedroom and living room apartments suitable for up to 6 guests. Each apartment has an equipped kitchen and a washing machine. Excellent location in Segovia's old city, about 850 meters from the city walls and 350 meters from its main square. The hotel features a solarium and sun terrace. Free internet. Parking at an additional cost.
Note: You can, of course, stay in Madrid and take a day trip to Segovia and/or the Valley of the Fallen. Many varied recommended accommodations in Madrid are featured in the article: https://bartravel.com/europe2/katavot/madrid.htm
Main Tourist Sites in Segovia:
"The Aqueduct of Segovia" Segovia Aqueduct
An ancient aqueduct built in the second century, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan. The aqueduct has multiple tiers and its maximum height is 28 meters. The original length of the aqueduct was about 18 kilometers, but much of it did not survive, and today a 730-meter section can be seen at the entrance to the city. This section, built entirely of granite blocks, features 167 arches and 123 columns.
The aqueduct is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful remnants from the Roman period in Spain. It has undergone several renovations over the years and was declared in 1985 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Calle Real is the main street starting at the aqueduct from which charming side streets branch off, leading to the Alcazar of Segovia.
Did you know?
Near the aqueduct lies a restaurant named Mesón de Cándido, which has been active for almost 200 years and is famous for its roast (asado) dishes.
www.mesondecandido.es/
Alcazar Castle Alcazar de Segovia
A 14th-century castle located on a cliff edge, which served as a fortress during Roman times and later served as the residence of the monarchs of Castile.
Later, the fortress became a prison and subsequently an artillery school. Today the place serves as a historical museum for the monarchs of Castile. It features magnificent halls, bedrooms, and an armory, all furnished and decorated with a wealth of impressive tapestries and paintings as befits a royal palace. This is one of the most famous castles in Spain, situated on a high mountain overlooking an amazing view of the entire surroundings. The castle is considered the most photographed building in all of Spain. Its turrets and surrounding moats give it an appearance straight out of a Walt Disney movie. For the sporty visitor, it is highly recommended to climb the bell tower, via 200 steep and narrow steps. The view from the top of the tower justifies the effort! The fortress was also declared in 1985 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Cathedral of Segovia Catedral de Segovia
A tall and impressive cathedral in the Spanish-Gothic style located in the vibrant main square of the city, Plaza Mayor. The cathedral was built in the 16th century (except for the dome and spire built in the 17th century) on the ruins of an earlier cathedral, and it is built in a classic Gothic style, being one of the last buildings in Europe built in this style during the transition to the Renaissance style. The cathedral earned the nickname "The Lady of Spanish Cathedrals" and was built on such a large area that 100 houses had to be demolished for its construction, some of them from the Jewish quarter.
Video about a trip to Segovia:
La Judería – The Jewish Quarter of Segovia
A network of streets whose central one is called Calle de la Judería Vieja.
The streets of La Judería are marked with a special symbol, so you can follow it and tour the quarter easily. It's fun to "get lost" in the narrow alleys. The quarter has several interesting buildings, one of the most prominent being Corpus Christi, a church that was formerly a synagogue, and you can still see features from its Jewish past in the building. It is also worth visiting
the Abraham Senior Didactic Centre Didactic Centre of the Jewish Quarter a small information center providing information about the Jewish community of Segovia.
www.segoviaturismo.es/en/ven-a-segovia/turismo-monumental/horarios-de-monumentos/segovia-capital/3321-centro-didactico-de-la-juderia
Did you know?
Abraham Senior was the treasurer in the 15th century in the service of the King and head of the Jewish community
in Castile. The King forced him to convert when the Jews had to choose between conversion and expulsion.
Guided Tours:
For those who like to gain added value and expand their knowledge, it is recommended to join a private 3-hour guided tour in Segovia that will teach you a lot about the city, its history, culture, and must-see sites.
Private Walking Tour of Segovia with official tour guide
A very popular activity in Segovia is a hot-air balloon flight over the city skies. Many companies offer this impressive flight, and some also offer round-trip transportation from Madrid. It is recommended to book the activity on the reliable and friendly Viator website: Hot-Air Balloon Ride over Segovia The tour includes an amazing scenic flight of about an hour passing over the city's famous sites, a video of the flight and a photo, breakfast and brunch, and even a participation certificate for the experiential flight.
Recommended to combine the trip to Segovia with two additional impressive sites:
"Valley of the Fallen" Valle de los Caídos
The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial site for the casualties of the Spanish Civil War. The site features a huge cross and a monument to the fallen of the Spanish Civil War.
www.valledeloscaidos.es/monumento/paso
The monument consists of the world's longest church, a simple basilica 262 meters long (!), carved into the rock at a depth of 250 meters by Republican forced laborers, many of whom met their deaths while building the site.
Franco himself was buried until recently at this site, but following many public struggles, his body was transferred in October 2019 from the place. 40,000 soldiers from both sides are buried in the church. The site is located about a 35-minute drive (50 km) south of Segovia.
Video about the Valley of the Fallen:
El Escorial Monastery El Escorial
A huge monastery located in the town of El Escorial. Also known as: The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo El Real, it was considered the eighth wonder of the world for a long time due to its complexity, uniqueness, and power. It is a vast complex of ancient buildings surrounded by beautiful gardens, in the Guadarrama mountain range Sierra de Guadarrama, about 45 km northwest of Madrid and 55 km south of Segovia (a 40-minute drive). Located about a 20-minute drive south of the Valley of the Fallen. The site was built by King Philip II in the late 16th century, over a period of about 30 years, and includes a monastery, mausoleum, palace, church, and library (with 40,000 books). Inside the church is the Pantheon of the Kings where most of the Spanish Habsburg monarchs are buried. The complex has 2,600 windows and a huge dome 92 meters high. This site was also declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It is recommended to join a guided tour of about an hour and a quarter focusing mainly on the palace and teaching much about the history and culture of the place. After the guided tour, it is worth continuing with an independent tour of the gardens and the rest of the buildings.
And how can one go without shopping?
The old city center of Segovia abounds with small, successful shops selling everything from handicrafts and jewelry to gourmet food products and wines. It's fun to wander among them, even for those who aren't big shopping fans, buy souvenirs, and taste quality typical food products.
However, for shopping enthusiasts, a mandatory stop on the way there or back is at the outlet (factory outlet center) most popular in the Madrid area Las Rozas The Style Outlets located on the road to Segovia and the Valley of the Fallen, about half an hour northwest of Madrid (25 km) and 45 minutes (70 km) south of Segovia.
The outlet is open every day of the week (including Sunday) from ten in the morning to ten at night. It has 40 stores including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Asics, Crocs, The North Face, and even LINDT for chocolate lovers.
