In the Footsteps of the Apostle of India
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With its characteristic ship’s silhouette that seems to defy the winds and storms, the Alcázar of Segovia evokes the qualities of truly virtuous souls.
At the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, on the far western edge of the old city, rises the centuries-old Alcázar of Segovia, Spain, with majestic splendour. Jutting from a rocky crag above the confluence of the Clamores and Eresma Rivers, it has defied the elements and time itself, its soaring silhouette dominating the surrounding landscape.
Its name denotes its ancient origin, for the word Alcázar comes from the Arabic al qasr, meaning castle. In fact, it was standing before the city was reconquered by Alfonso VI, and served as the residence of his grandson Alfonso VIII, the victor of the famous battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. It was restored and expanded by several Castilian kings, including Alfonso X the Wise and John II, the latter being responsible for the construction of the edifice’s imposing keep. In the fifteenth century, the Alcázar played a significant role in the ascension of Isabella the Catholic to the throne as Queen of Castile and León. She then married Ferdinand II of Aragon and, almost one century later, the building served as the setting for the wedding of Anna of Austria and Philip II, the king to whom the definitive architectural configuration seen today is attributed.
The Alcázar of Segovia is a prototypical example of the marvels that come forth when art and nature unite. While its foundations are firmly anchored in stone, its elegant towers point to the heavens.
A reflection of eternity, and a product of the passage of centuries, its characteristic ship’s outline seems to defy the winds and storms with its noble prow. Combining strength and elegance, it evokes the qualities of truly virtuous souls: stability, beauty, steadfastness, courage, and sights set on eternity.
Thoughts such as these crowded the mind of the photographer on the climb to the Two Valley Outlook on a bright April after-noon. After several days of stormy weather, the Segovian sky was blanketed with cloud formations that swept past majestically. The photo presented here was shot in these conditions, and we are happy to share it with our readers.
