Segovia, Valle de los Caídos, and El Escorial

This past weekend we took a day trip to Segovia, Valle de los Caídos, and El Escorial. Segovia is about two hours away from Alcalá de Henares, so we got on the bus around 8 AM, fought traffic north of Madrid, and arrived in Segovia around 10 AM. Segovia is home to a massive Roman aqueduct, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in 98 AD, it was transported water to the town up through the early part of the 20th century. It's an impressive structure, at it's tallest point it's almost 100 feet tall. 

After taking some pictures with the group we walked to the opposite side of Segovia to El Alcázar. 

The castle housed some of the most famous Spanish monarchs, including Alfonso X (aka Alfonso the Wise) who created a school that specialized in the translating Arabic. Greek, and Latin texts. The castle is beautiful and most of the rooms have techos artesonados, vaulted ceilings with interlocking decorated panels that the Moors brought to Spain when they invaded in 711 AD.

From there we went to the town's cathedral. It was the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. To be honest, it was nice but not nearly as impressive as León. 

After gathering everyone together we headed to Valle de los Caídos. It was designed by the dictator Francisco Franco as a a conciliatory gesture following the Spanish Civil War. Bodies of nationalist and republican forces are interred there. However, it's all done under the symbolic logic of the nationalist party, so it has been a point of contention for Franco's opponents. Franco had a fascination with the glory of Spain's medieval and Golden Age period, and he lets it show here. The church is a massive vault carved into the side of a mountain. The largest cross in the world sits atop the mountain. The choir section is decorated with scenes from the crusades, and large hooded Horsemen of the Apocalypse and angels look down on everyone. It's both creepy and awe-inspiring. 

After Valle de los Caídos, we went to the one more palace: the massive El Escorial. My favorite place was, unsurprisingly, the library.