Walls of Segovia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walls of Segovia |
|
|---|---|
| Murallas de Segovia | |
| Segovia, Castile and León, Spain | |
View of the city walls
|
|
| Coordinates | 40°57′4.52″N 4°7′43.64″W / 40.9512556°N 4.1287889°W |
| Type | City wall |
| Height | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Length | 2,250 m (7,380 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Mostly intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 11th–12th centuries |
| Built by | Kingdom of Castile |
| Events | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, iii, iv |
| Designated | 1985 (9th session) |
| Part of | Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct |
| Reference no. | 311 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
The Walls of Segovia (called Murallas de Segovia in Spanish) are old stone walls. They surround the historic city of Segovia in Castile and León, Spain. These walls were built a long time ago to protect the city. They are a great example of medieval defense.
Contents
What Are the Walls of Segovia?
The Walls of Segovia are a set of defensive walls. They were built around the city during the Middle Ages. Their main job was to keep the city safe from attacks. These walls are still mostly standing today. They show how cities were protected centuries ago.
How Big Are These Ancient Walls?
The walls stretch for about 2,250 meters (that's about 1.4 miles) around the city. They are quite tall, reaching an average height of 9 meters (about 30 feet). The walls are also very thick, usually around 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) wide. This made them very strong and hard to break through.
When Were the Walls Built?
The walls were built using many different materials. Some parts are very, very old. Most of the walls you see today were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. That's over 800 years ago! Over the years, people made big repairs and changes to them.
Exploring the Walls and Their Gates
The walls form a complete circle around Segovia's old town. They connect important landmarks like the Alcázar (a famous castle) and various gates.
Key Sections and Towers
Starting from the Alcázar, the wall has different towers. You can find two round towers and one rectangular tower. These towers helped guards watch for enemies.
Famous Gates of Segovia
The walls have several important gates. These gates were the entry and exit points for the city.
- The Puerta de Santiago (Saint James Gate) is one of the main gates. It has a special arch shape called a horseshoe arch. This gate is rectangular in shape.
- The wall then goes along the north side of the city. It overlooks the Eresma River. It reaches the Gate of San Cebrián. This gate once had a crucifix sculpture at its entrance.
- Further along, the wall continues east. It used to have the San Juan gate. This gate was taken down in 1888 because the city needed more space.
- The wall then turns south and west. This section included smaller openings like the Postigo del Consuelo and the Portillo de la Canaleja. It also had gates like San Martín, la Luna, and del Sol.
- Finally, you reach the Puerta de San Andrés (Saint Andrew's Gate). This gate has both a square tower and a tower with many sides. From here, the wall goes back to the Alcázar, completing its circle.
-
Puerta de Santiago
-
Puerta de San Andrés
-
Roman inscription within a wall tower
.jpg)
