Roman aqueduct, Disney castle, and cochinillo asado — Spain's most cinematic day trip
Segovia is one of Spain's most visually arresting cities — a hilltop town 90km north of Madrid where a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct (still structurally perfect) towers over the main square, and the fairy-tale Alcázar castle at the far tip of the old town reportedly inspired Walt Disney's Cinderella castle. Cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig, skin so crisp it's traditionally served by breaking a plate on it) is the defining local dish.
Segovia's Roman aqueduct was built in the 1st or early 2nd century AD — nearly 15km of granite blocks stacked without mortar to carry water from the mountains across a 728-metre valley into the city. Medieval Segovia became one of Castile's most important cities: Isabel I of Castile was proclaimed Queen here in 1474, launching the joint monarchy with Ferdinand of Aragon that would finance Columbus and unify Spain. The city's historic centre, aqueduct, and Alcázar are UNESCO-listed.