Alcázar Castle (Alcázar of Segovia)

Alcázar Castle is one of the most famous palaces of the kings of Spain, located in the ancient city of Segovia. The beautiful castle stands on a rocky ledge, near where the Clamores River falls into the Eresma. Its elevated position and picturesque architecture make the Alcázar the most recognizable Spanish palace.

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Video: Alcázar Castle

Contents

Highlights

The Alcazar Castle was built in the early 12th century as an Arab fortress. Throughout its history, it has been used as a fort, a royal palace, a state prison and the Royal Artillery School. Today, the architectural monument has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain.

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Eleven halls of the palace and a high tower named after King Juan II are available to travelers. There is a museum here, ancient furniture, trellises, stained glass windows, military armor and weapons are on display. On the walls you can see portraits of all the kings who ruled Castile, from the Visigoth nobleman Pelayo to Philip II.

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Of particular interest is the chapel of the Alcazar Castle, where the marriage of Philip II and Anne of Austria took place. It contains a painting by Italian artist Bartolomeo Carducci, who served the Spanish king. The subject of the painting was the biblical story of the adoration of the Magi.

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The territory of the ancient palace is open to tourists all year round. From April to September, visitors can get into the Alcazar Castle from 10.00 to 19.00, and from October to February – from 10.00 to 18.00.

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History of Alcázar Castle

Excavations conducted by archaeologists have allowed to establish that the fortifications on the site of the future castle existed in Roman times. In a document from 1120 the castle is called “fortress on the hill at Eresma”, and 35 years later the name Alcazar is mentioned for the first time. In Arabic, the name means “fortified place” or “fortress.”

Under King Alfonso VIII, the castle made of wood began to be rebuilt in stone. Gradually, the Alcázar became the permanent residence of the Castilian kings and became a powerful fort. At the wish of Philip II, Madrid was chosen as the new place for the royal court, so the old castle was made a prison.

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In 1762, under the reign of Spanish King Charles III, the Royal Artillery School was established here. It operated for almost a century until a devastating fire, from which the roof collapsed and all the interior rooms were badly damaged. By the end of the XIX century the castle was restored and handed over to the military. It housed the Artillery Corps and the military archive. Since the middle of the last century, part of the halls of the ancient fortress was given to the museum.

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Museum interiors

The oldest room of the fortress is called the Old Palace Hall. It has an elegant decor in the Moorish style and presents to the attention of tourists a collection of military armor. The fireplace hall appeared under King Philip II. In it you can see a trellis and furniture from the 16th century, as well as several paintings.

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The majestic Throne Room also has a sophisticated Moorish decor. Throne chairs are on display here, and some of the portraits of kings are on the walls. A continuation of the portrait collection is housed in the King’s Hall, formerly considered the most important room in the palace.

The Galley Hall is the most important room in the palace.

The Hall of the Galley in the Alcázar Castle was built in 1412 and named so because of its set wooden ceiling, which looks like the inverted keel of a ship. Its windows have antique stained glass windows and on the wall is a painting depicting the laying of the crown on Isabella the Catholic. The Hall of Cords was named after the Franciscan cord adorning its walls, and the Hall of Cones was named after the cones on the ceiling.

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How to get there

The Alcázar Castle stands in the northwest of Segovia, 90 kilometers north of the Spanish capital. From Madrid, you can get here by rented car via highways A-6 and Ar-61. Most tourists get to the Alcazar Castle by buying sightseeing tours. Those who want to get to Segovia by public transportation can reach the city by train. The journey from Madrid takes about two hours.

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