Alcazar

This is the real deal, a castle on a cliff, complete with a moat, knights and armor. It’s just like the sort of place you pictured as a kid reading about dragons, knights and princesses. You can easily spend two solid hours taking in the intricate architecture, the water management innovations and the armory.

The tower climb is worth doing if you’re able, though there are lots of steps. I managed it with my walking stick, but it was hard work. The toilets are downstairs; accessible facilities are available in the ticket office. Entry to both the castle and tower is timed. You can enter the castle only ten minutes before your slot, and for the tower you wait in the castle’s main courtyard until your time. The audio guide is well worth it, with interesting information that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Even in winter, the views are wonderful, and with snow starting to fall the fairytale castle felt magical. Inside, the rooms and decoration are beautiful and fascinating, and there’s plenty to hold your interest without making the place hard to get around. The staff were professional and helpful, and the prices felt fair. A visit gives you a real sense of medieval Spain and Segovia’s place in the country’s history. It’s a must on a trip to Segovia.

The Alcázar de Segovia feels like a storybook castle brought to life. It rises from a rocky ridge where the Eresma and Clamores rivers meet, and its slate spires make it the defining feature of the skyline. The exterior is famously said to have inspired Disney castles, but the inside is just as striking. The place is very well preserved and cared for. Moving from the austere armory to rooms with intricate Moorish influences in the ceilings is breathtaking. The artwork, tapestries and gilded friezes bring the past to life, especially in the Gallery of Kings. The Mudéjar ceilings, made from geometric patterns in gold and cedar, are mesmerizing. I was struck by how immaculate everything felt for such an old site: polished tiles and carefully kept courtyard gardens. From the Tower of Juan II, the view stretches over the Spanish plains. It’s more than a museum, it’s a monument to human ambition and artistic skill. A five-star treasure.