Segovia - Outside the Walls

The road curves round the hill to the northeastern tip of the town, crosses the Río Eresma and turns right. From this point there is a good view of the Alcázar in all its towering majesty.

On the opposite side of the road from the Convento de San Juan de la Cruz, standing alone, is the round church of the Vera Cruz (Holy Cross), built in 1208-17. Originally a Templar church, it was modeled on the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and has 13th century wall paintings.

Just beyond the Río Eresma bridge a narrow road goes off on the left to three ecclesiastical buildings. First, in a low-lying area to the left of the road, stands the massive 17th century pilgrimage church of the Virgen de la Fuencisla, beyond which is the Convento de San Juan de la Cruz, a house of Discalced Carmelites founded in 1576 by St John of the Cross, of which he was prior for some time; it is now an old people's home.

The road below the town walls, now returns to the Plaza del Azoguejo, passing on the left the Convento de Santa Cruz (founded 1217), which has an Isabelline doorway.

Almost opposite the Monasterio del Parral on the left bank of the Eresma, at the bridge, is the old Mint, in which Spanish coins were minted until 1730.

A few hundred meters farther on from the Vera Cruz another side road branches off the "ring road" on the left, crosses the Eresma and comes to the Monasterio del Parral, a Hieronymite house founded by Henry IV in 1447 and financed by the Marqués de Villena. The church, in Isabelline style, has a massive 16th century retablo and contains two alabaster tombs of 1528, one being that of the founder.

From the Plaza del Azoguejo the Avenida de Fernández Ladreda runs southwest to the Romanesque church of San Clemente (13th C.), with an interesting apse. To the right of the Capilla Mayor are 13th century wall paintings.

From the Convento de Santa Cruz a road leads to the church of San Lorenzo, in the outer district of that name. Its tower and tripartite apse are magnificent examples of Mudéjar architecture.

San Millán in Segovia is a Romanesque church which was built between 1111 and 1124 and is thus one of Segovia's oldest churches. The interior, predominantly Baroque, is decorated with frescoes. There are also remains of Romanesque frescoes in the chancel.

Beyond San Millán we reach the little road which runs round the hill beneath the circuit of walls, still almost complete. The walls, which are built on Iberian foundations, were improved and strengthened by the Romans and restored in the 11th and 12th centuries. At intervals in the walls are 86 semicircular towers (cubos), and there are three imposing gates.