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The Alcázar of Segovia is, along with the Segovia Aqueduct, the image of this beautiful city in Castilla y León, in Spain, which had already existed since Roman domination. The Alcázar of Segovia stands on a hill at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers.
The Kings' Room, the Throne Room and the Tower of John II stand out in the Castle. This castle was one of the inspirations for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle.
The first preserved documentary evidence of the building dates from the year 1122, shortly after Alfonso VI of León reconquered the city, although it was not until the year 1155 when it was mentioned under the name of alcázar, in a letter kept in the cathedral archive. It was the residence of King Alfonso VIII. In 1258, when Alfonso X reigned, the palace sank while the king was inside. This oldest core corresponds to the weapons room. It was restored and expanded numerous times, possibly from Alfonso X to Philip II. Its current appearance is due to the latter; its "silhouette" makes it unique among Spanish castles.
In the Middle Ages, due to its security and proximity to hunting areas, the Alcázar became one of the favorite residences of the Kings of Castile, especially Alfonso X. It was inhabited many times and became one of the most sumptuous palace-castles in the 15th century. The fortress later served as a state prison until 1762 when Charles III founded the Royal College of Artillery in Segovia, which had its headquarters in the fortress. In 1862, a fire destroyed the sumptuous ceilings of the noble rooms, which could be faithfully reconstructed later thanks to the existence of engravings by D. José María Avrial y Flores in 1844.
In 1931 it was declared a historical-artistic monument. In 1953, the Alcazar Board of Trustees was created and is responsible for the museum that can be visited inside. The distribution of the castle is divided into two areas: the exterior, with a Herrerian patio, moat, drawbridge and the keep, and the interior rooms that include a chapel and several noble rooms (Throne Room, Galera Room, Pine Cones Room, Kings Room and others) that can currently be visited.
Its plan is very irregular and adapts to the hill on which it stands. The very beautiful keep stands out, square with four towers, a room covered with a pointed cannon and twin windows. It was built under King John II and initially served as a weapons room. Inside, the halls and rooms were decorated with great luxury and beauty by Mudejar painters and artists. Currently, it houses a Weapons Museum and the General Military Archive of Segovia, the oldest historical archive of the Spanish Armed Forces.
