Segorbe
Segorbe is a historical town named a Historical-Artistic Center. It started in the Islamic era and initially it was based only around a castle on Sopeña Hill. In the 16th century, king Alfonso of Aragon and Sicily, ordered the construction of the ducal palace where he moved his residence and left the castle forever. Over the years the castle was dismantled and the stones were used for other construction such as Cathedral and others. During the conflicts like the Carlist wars in the 19th century, the fortress called La Estrella (Eng. The Star) was built and those ruins still remain and can be visited. A little climb up the hill and you find the ruins in the surroundings of a little park filled with pine trees.
Segorbe is a very beautiful town with a variety of monuments to visit. There are a few you can't miss:
The Segorbe Cathedral was constructed on top of the old mosque ruins after the Crown of Aragon took over the area. It was built in Gothic style around the 12th century. The last major renovation took place in the 18th century to fit the ideas of the Enlightenment of that time. Today, the Cathedral includes a church, Bell Tower, cloister, and Cathedral Museum.
The Aqueduct of Segorbe, built by the Arabs in the 11th or 12th century, shows their impressive engineering skills. However, the part that can still be seen today (pointed arches) is from the 14th century.
The Prison Tower and the Executioner's Tower were constructed in the 14th century as defensive structures. The taller one, Prison Tower, had prison cells while the Executioner's Tower served both defensive and residential purposes.
Two beautiful 17th century churches: Iglesia de Santa Maria (eng. St. Mary's Church) and Iglesia de Sant Joaquim y Santa Anna. Both churches worth visiting for their impressive interiors, the latter one also for its exuberant baroque decorations.
We ended our visit of Segorbe with a quick stop at a little but very cozy park called La Glorieta. There you will find a fountain, a little botanical garden and a beautiful views of a mountain range.
Shortly outside Segorbe you will find the fountain of the 50 pipes. It is a beautiful spot located on one of the banks of the Palencia river. Over every pipe you can see 50 heraldic coats of arms, one of each Spanish province.
Only a short drive outside the Segorbe there is a spectacular Cartuja de Valldecrist (eng. Charterhouse of the Valldecrist). Guided tours are available by contacting the Altura tourist office in advance. It unfortunately isn't normally open for public, but you can view it from outside the fence. Cartuja de Valldecrist was a monastery established in 1385, when Pedro IV was the king of Aragon. His son, Infante Don Martín, who later became King Martin I The Human, founded it. The place was thriving in the 18th century but eventually was abandoned in 1835, which led to looting and other damage. Currently Cartuja de Valldecrist is carrying out several architectural and curtural rehabilitation projects.
When visiting Segorbe, make sure to stop at El Salto de la Novia.
Feel free to send me your suggestions for must-visit places in the province of Castellón and beyond.