Alcázar - Exterior

Gate of the Alcazar of Segovia	Fernando VII reigned briefly in 1808, then again 1813-1833	This outer gate leads to the gardens in front of the castle	Cloud blocks out the sun with the Torre de Juan II
Eastern view of the Alcázar of Segovia with the Tower of John II of Castille	Narrow southern end of the Tower of John II	Torre de Juan II, named after the Castilian king who had it built (r. 1406-1454)	Northeast corner tower
Massive keep , the New Tower, now named Torre de Juan II after its builder	Lion over the gate to the Alcazar	The deep chasm of the dry moat from the bridge leading into the Alcázar	The Alcázar has a long history starting with the Romans
Today's stone castle replaced earlier wooden fortifications starting under Alphonso VIII (1155-1214)	The first courtyard - Patio de Armas	The Torre de Juan II from the first courtyard	I should have gone up the tower first - didn't realize there was a big storm brewing
The first courtyard - Patio de Armas and the Tower of John II	The western tower from Terraza de Reyes	Garden below the Terraza de Reyes, Alcázar	Western end of the Alcázar of Segovia
The second courtyard, Patio del Reloj	The archway linking the two courtyards of the Alcázar	Getting ready to climb the tower	View of the Alcázar of Segovia from the Tower of John II
Alcázar from Torre de Juan II	Alcázar from Torre de Juan II	Storm clouds building	I waited hoping for a break in the clouds to light up the cathedral for me, but it was getting towards closing time
Dark clouds from the top of the Torre de Juan II, Alcázar	Dark clouds from the top of the Torre de Juan II, Alcázar	Looking west from the Tower of John II	The Alcazar from the top of the tallest tower
Rain in the distance	A break in the clouds, maybe I'll get lucky	Stormy skies over Segovia	The view of the city of Segovia from the top of the Alcazar
Detail of the small turrets around the Tower of John II	An inscription referring to the Revolution of 1936	Alcázar of Segovia	The pointed towers were added by King Philip II (r. 1554-1598)
Alcázar of Segovia seen from the garden	Panoramic view of the eastern face of the Alcázar of Segovia	"Alcázar" comes from the Arabic word for palace, Al-Qasr (القصر)	Isabella I was crowned Queen of Castile y León in Segovia in 1474
Alcázar of Segovia	After the kings moved to Madrid, the Royal Artillery School used the palace 1762-1862	A Los Capitanes de Artilleria D. Luis Daoiz y D. Pedro Velarde La Nación Espańola.	To the Artillery Captains Don Luis Daoiz and Don Pedro Velarde from the Spanish Nation
Monument erected by Alfonso XIII in 1908	The Captains, former students of the Alcázar Artillery School, started the revolt against the Napoleonic invasion in 1808	Artillery Monument, Alcazar Gardens	Clio, Goddess of History
Ornate fixture in the Alcazar Gardens	Dragon-shaped lighting fixture, Alcazar Gardens	Real Laboratorio de Chimia, part of the Royal Artillery School	French chemist Louis Proust directed the Royal Chemistry Laboratory
East face of the Alcazar of Segovia dominated by the Torre de Juan II	Panoramic view of the Alcazar of Segovia	Panoramic view of the Alcazar of Segovia	Alcazar of Segovia
Puerto de Santiago, Segovia	For good views of the exterior, head outside of the old town	Torre de Juan II, Alcazar of Segovia	View from the north, Alcazar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Walking along Calle de San Marcos beneath the Alcazar	View of the Alcazar from San Marcos	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	View of the Alcazar from the Iglesia de la Vera Cruz	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia from San Marcos	Alcázar of Segovia	The best views of the Alcazar are from a park near the river off Ctra de Arevalo
I'll have to come back on a blue sky afternoon	Alcazar of Segovia rising above the trees with a stormy sky	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia from the riverside park	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Dark and stormy evening, Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	An interesting cave beneath the Alcazar's northwestern point
Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia with a dark sky, late afternoon
Alcázar of Segovia with a dark sky, late afternoon	Alcázar of Segovia through the trees	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia from along the Camino de la Cuesta de los Hoyos	Camino de la Cuesta de los Hoyos circles around the western and southern sides of the Alcazar	Alcazar with a stormy sky, Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
I didn't manage to catch the lightning	Alcazar in the rain	Alcázar of Segovia, stormy evening	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia from the southwest, Camino de la Cuesta de los Hoyos	Alcázar of Segovia through the trees	The Alcazar was built on a natural rocky outcropping	Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia	South face of the Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia	Alcázar of Segovia
There are nice hiking trails above the main road to the south	Alcazar of Segovia	Alacazar, Segovia	Alacazar, Segovia
Alacazar, Segovia	Gate to the Alacazar, Segovia