Alcazar de Segovia (Alcazar of Segovia )

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El Alcázar de Segovia es uno de los monumentos más destacados de Segovia, España. La cita más antigua sobre el alcázar es una carta del archivo de la catedral de 1155. Se conoce que fue residencia del rey Alfonso VIII. En 1258, reinando Alfonso X, se hundió el palacio cuando el rey se encontraba en su interior. Este núcleo más antiguo corresponde con la sala de armas. Fue numerosas veces restaurado y ampliado, posiblemente desde Alfonso X hasta Felipe II. A este último se debe su aspecto actual, su "silueta" lo hace único entre los castillos españoles.

 

En la Edad Media, por su seguridad como por la proximidad de zonas de caza, el Alcázar se convirtió en una de las residencias favoritas de los Reyes de Castilla, en especial de Alfonso X. Fue habitado muchas veces y llegó a ser uno de los más suntuosos palacio-castillos en el siglo XV.

La fortaleza sirvió posteriormente como prisión de Estado hasta que en 1762 Carlos III fundó en Segovia el Real Colegio de Artillería que tuvo su sede en el alcázar. En 1862, un incendio destruyó las suntuosas techumbres de las salas nobles, que pudieron ser reconstruidas fielmente con posterioridad gracias a la existencia de grabados.

En 1931 fue declarado monumento histórico artístico. En el año 1953 se creó el patronato del alcázar que es el responsable del museo que se puede visitar en su interior.

English


The Alcázar of Segovia (literally, Segovia Castle) is a stone fortification, located in the old city of Segovia, Spain. The first reference to this particular Alcázar was in 1120, The shape and form of the Alcázar was not known until the reign of King Alfonso VIII (1155–1214). Alfonso VIII and his wife, Eleanor of Plantagenet made this Alcázar their principal residence and much work was carried out to erect the beginnings of the stone fortification we see today at Felipe II reign.

The Alcázar, throughout the Middle Ages, remained one of the favorite residences of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile and a key fortress in the defense of the kingdom. It was during this period a majority of the current building was constructed and the palace was extended on a large scale by the monarchs of the Trastámara dynasty.
In 1258, parts of the Alcázar had to be rebuilt by King Alfonso X of Castile after a cave-in and soon after the Hall of Kings was built to house Parliament. However, the single largest contributor to the continuing construction of the Alcázar is King John II who built the 'New Tower' (John II tower as it is known today).
In 1474, the Alcázar played a major role in the rise of Queen Isabella I of Castile. On 12 December news of the King Henry IV's death in Madrid reached Segovia and Isabella immediately took refuge within the walls of this Alcázar where she received the support of Andres Cabrera and Segovia's council. She was crowned the next day as Queen of Castile and León.
The next major renovation at the Alcázar was conducted by King Philip II after his marriage to Anna of Austria. He added the sharp slate spires to reflect the castles of central Europe. In 1587, architect Francisco de Morar completed the main garden and the School of Honor areas of the castle.
The royal court eventually moved to Madrid and the Alcázar then served as a state prison for almost two centuries before King Charles III founded the Royal Artillery School in 1762. It served this function for almost a hundred years until March 6, 1862 where a fire badly damaged the roofs and framework.
It was only in 1882 that the building was slowly restored to its original state. In 1896, King Alfonso XIII ordered the Alcázar to be handed over to the Ministry of War as a military college.

 


Fotografías y maqueta por Jorge Arroyos
Pictures and maquettes by Jorge Arroyos