Segovia - Surroundings

A minor road which branches off N 603 within the built-up area of Segovia runs southwest to the country mansion of Riofrío, built by Philip V's widow, who did not wish to return to La Granja. The house now contains a Hunting Museum.

From Sepúlveda follow SG 233 southwest towards Pedraza. At the road junction known as the Cuatro Carreteras a road goes off on the left to Castilnovo (12th-15th C.), originally a Moorish stronghold.

15km/9mi beyond Turégano on C 603 lies Cantalejo, 24km/15mi north of which is Fuentidueña, with the ruins of two Romanesque churches and a formidable castle.

Pedraza claims to be the birthplace of the Emperor Trajan. The little town is dominated by a massive castle on a high rocky crag. Around the attractive Plaza Mayor, a very typical Castilian square, are the Romanesque Torre San Juan and the Casa de la Inquisición, now an inn. 10km/6mi beyond Pedraza SG 233 joins N 110, which continues southwest by way of Collado Hermoso to Segovia.

C 605 runs northwest from Segovia to Santa María la Real de Nieva (28km/17mi), with a church which has a particularly beautiful cloister.

From Cantalejo a minor road runs 15km/9mi northeast to the picturesque little town of Sepúlveda (alt. 1,032m/3,386ft), situated high above a loop on the Río Duratón. This was the Roman settlement of Septempublica, and it still has well preserved Roman walls as well as several Romanesque churches. Lower down is the commandingly situated 11th century church of El Salvador, with a galleried portico and a free-standing bell-tower, from which there is a breathtaking panoramic view. The Castillo was founded by Fernán González.

Leave Segovia on N 601, going northwest, and in 9.5km/6mi turn right into N 603, which runs northeast to (34km/21mi) Turégano (alt. 936m/3,071ft), a little episcopal town with an arcaded Plaza Mayor over which looms a partly ruined castle of the 13th-15th centuries with a massive keep. Within its battlemented walls is the Romanesque church of San Miguel, with a striking bell cote.

N 110 leads southwest from Segovia to the major junction with N VI, just beyond which is Villacastín (alt. 1,040m/3,412ft). This little town on the western slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama has old mansions and a notable parish church (15th-17th C.) with two fine retablos and a number of tombs.