Segovia

#174 Alcazar of Segovia
Segovia, Castile & León, Spain
1120 - 1258, plus early 15th century
This is NOT an official Lego site

Like many other European castles and fortresses, the Alcazar of Segovia is built atop the minor remains of a Roman fort. Following the Umayyad conquest of much of Iberia in the 8th century, or shortly thereafter, a wooden Muslim stockade was built on the site. The "castle of Segovia" and "Alca'ar" are first mentioned in 1120, while Urraca, daughter of King Alfonso VI, reigned over the recently freed Castile and León. The castle was begun to protect the adjacent Cathedral of Santa Maria, and was enhanced from 1124 to 1139, during the reign of Alfonso VII, son of Urraca and her arranged husband, Raymond of Burgundy. The famous 'ship's prow' shape of the castle apparently occurred during the latter half of the 12th century, during the reign of King Alfonso VIII, and his wife, Eleanor of England. Major reconstructions occurred during the reign of Alfonso X in 1258 after a major cave-in, but the most impressive part of the castle was the Tower of John II, built during the first half of the 15th century. The Alcazar reached its peak of importance during the reigns of John II (1406-1454) and Henry IV (1454-1474).

On December 12, 1474 King Henry IV of Castile died in Madrid, and his sister Isabella immediately took refuge at the Alcazar, where she was enthroned as Queen Isabella of Castile and León the next day. The coronation is remembered by a wall-size painting of the event in the Alabaster Room by Muñoz de Pablos. After Isabella died in 1504, her mentally ill daughter Joanna became Queen. The situation did not destabilize for the 12 years that her father, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, was her co-regent, but when he died in 1516, her 16 year old son, Charles, was proclaimed King of Castile and Aragon. Charles, raised in the Netherlands, first became Carlos I of Aragon, but was soon crowned Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His extravagant court and increased taxation led to the War of the Communities of Castile in 1520-1. The rebellion was crushed, and he ruled with his mother, Joanna, until 1556, when he abdicated to his son, Phillip II. Phillip, Emperor of the Spanish Habsburgs, married Anne of Austria in 1570, and added the sharp slate spires to the Alcazar.

The royal court eventually moved back to Madrid, and for almost 200 years, the Alcazar served as as state prison. Then in 1762 King Charles II founded the Royal College of Artillery at Segovia, which stayed there until the devastating fire of March 6, 1862 which destroyed roofs and interiors, and many of the treasures stored in the castle. It was 20 years before restoration of the castle took place, and in 1896, King Alfonso XIII handed over the Alcazar to the Ministry of War to be a war college. In 1951 the Board of Trustees decreed that the castle should become a public museum to celebrate its triple history as royal castle, artillery school and war college.


Here is my ground floor plan with the best key I can produce	Here is the same plan with the rooms and spaces which will seen at Brickworld 2020. Green is for the north side, and yellow for the south.	This is a nice watercolor of the castle showing the proximity of the Cathedral of Santa Maria.

Photos of the Lego Model under construction September 2019 - June 2020 This project is my first castle collaboration. Dear friend Terry Parrish of Champaign, Illinois, is warrior enough to drive 55 miles each way once a week to build the Alcazar with me. Be safe, Road Warrior!

On September 10, 2019, the four sections of the Alcazar are laid out. The 11.5+ foot long model will not fit on my building table despite both leaves being in place. Darling wife Judy notes the small computer table [see L edge of this picture]	That added 19 3/4" is just enough so that the new castle can be built in its actual shape!	By the seventh day there is more form to the rocky outcrop upon which the Alcazar was built.	From the "prow" end of the castle, you can appreciate the little computer stand which allows in-line building!


Introducing Terry Parrish, my collaborator on this massive model!	Here we are building again on September 24. The mountain is growing.	Here's the east (entrance) end of the castle on the same day. Terry has several red shirts, being a big Ohio State Buckeye fan.	Work resumes on Oct. 17, when Judy and I return from a meeting in Florida.	We are working our way up to the 26- brick high main floor level of the castle!


Soon we'll be seeing the floors of the main rooms.	But the columned Arms Patio (Gunyard) is already taking shape.	Here are four photos of progress as of October 24. The base of the castle is pretty much done...	...with the prow end of the Alcazar saved for last!	You can vaguely appreciate the main room on the north side of the castle. More in a few days!


The Arms Patio is essentially complete.	A month has passed and I've finally gotten the camera out for a construction update!	The front of the castle is basically finished except for the corner tower.	Here is the "hallway" created by roofing the curtain wall on the right.	Looking down the front of the castle.


Here is the expanded wall walk - very unique in my experience.	The Throne Room is taking shape...	... as is the large Alabaster Hall (Sala de la Galera)	The tapestries in the Royal Bedroom are temporary, and the royal bed will be moved.


The Kings Hall will feature a whole range of challenges, from walls to artwork!	The Cord Room is in front of the royal Chapel, which will be quite a delight.	The "prow" of the castle is complete, though not much of the Tower of Homage yet.	I've added an extra mounted knight to the otherwise empty Armory Museum.


The Clock Yard (Patio de Reloj) may or may not feature a sundial, but otherwise will be pretty accurate in its appearance.	The two courtyards are separ- ated by two stairs going different places.	The Gunyard (Patio de Armas) hasn't changed much in the past month.


The Treasury, designed with neither information or pictures, is already pretty impressive.	Finally the main stair and Constable's Room in the donjon. Room updates will follow.	By December 2, the Throne Room has lost its paper canopy...	...and the reigning King and Queen are receiving!	They get to enjoy large portraits and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella while they work.


On December 6 the Royal Bedroom finally has its own tapestries. The Queen has rearranged the furniture, naturally.	Here is a general view of the castle on December 9.	Here is the Treasury on December 12 - the second room in the model to be lighted.	On December 17 Terry roofs the fascinating Armory.	By the last week of December the Tower of John II is finally rising above the curtain wall.


The main rooms are filling out and getting decorated.	There is also structure to the second story of the Tower of Homage.	The view from the west shows the slow but steady progress on on the model.	Here is the Clock Yard with chapel windows longing for stained glass.	The Gunyard columns now support a balcony, with railings and roof- supporting columns.


By the last week of January 2020 the front of the Alcazar is looking more impregnable.	The Throne Room, Alabaster Hall, Royal Bedroom, King's Hall and Chapel all have ceilings and are illuminated.	The Tower of Homage and stair tower have risen well into the second story.	Serious work is also under way on the room above the Treasury and the enormous donjon.	Various merchants and nobles are gathering in the King's Hall for discussions.


On February 2, my wife and I are about to leave for 2 1/2 weeks in Texas, with roofing of the citadel just underway.	The Tower of Homage even has a third story, and the Gunyard balcony is roofed!	By mid-March w2e are back from Texas, Covid lockdown has begun & DBG slopes are ordered from Indonesia to complete the huge roof...	But they do not arrive for 9 months, another set is order from Lego.com.	The Towers of Homage and John II are getting close to completion.


By March 28 roofing continues elsewhere:	This roof will be so tall that it needs to be removable.	The Guard Dormitory occupying the uppermost room in the donjon is being designed...	...as are the Tower's decorative elements. We'll now move on to the completed castle!!

Photos of the Lego Model Built September 10, 2019 to June, 2020 for BrickWorld 2020 and then 2021(neither of which happened due to the pandemic). These photos were taken in the Decatur Area Arts Council Gallery, February 2021.

The ESE view, of the front of the castle, which includes about 2/3 of the donjon.	Despite the size of the Anne Lloyd Gallery, the view from the ENE is as close as I get to a profile of the castle. Maybe at Brickworld Chicago 2021, I hope.	The signage shows photos of the actual castle for comparison.	Here's the view from the WNW, showing the 'prow' of the huge project.


The west view highlights the 'L' shape of the model, with both courtyards.	The number of lighted, decorated, occupied rooms was a real joy to design and build!	Finally the view from the south. Now we'll move on to the many spaces and their occupants!


The drawbridge mechanism and a happy couple to begin!	A duel nearby - over a lady perhaps.	The Throne Room, with canopy and drapes very like the real ones.	Current rulers likely Carlos I and his mother, Joanna I, just before he became Holy Roman Emperor.	They get to look at their predecessors, Ferdinand and Isabella, every day the royal court is in session.


The Alabaster Hall is large and sparsely decorated, but it's a perfect room for parties...	...if you don't mind the occasional empty (?) suit of armor listening to your every word.	The famous painting of Queen Isabella's coronation is a real attention getter!	Because its so beautiful with its four poster bed and magnificent tapestries, the royal bedroom...	...has been moved to align with the other rooms on the outer face of the castle.


The upper walls of the King's Hall are lined with every king and queen in Spain's history.	The Hall is where noblemen and merchants gathered to air their grievances...	...and (usually) support their rulers. It's a gorgeous room.	Here is the Cord Room, where the priests robed, and the chapel with its stained glass windows.	The 'slot' in the wall is the priest's door into the confessional [not built].


The main door into the chapel can accessed from the Cord Room or two outside doors.	We wander by the Tower of Homage, and peek in the museum window.	Someone has stolen two sausages. Beware of the cook's butcher knife!	How will eventually appear from the huge chunk of granite?	Oh oh. Another fellow in trouble. Better a loaf of bread than a butcher knife!	The perimeter if the huge Alcazar must be checked regularly.


Ah, the Armory Museum in its full historical glory!	And above the Museum, the real armory. The blades are quite sharp, so be careful.	Further up the Tower of Homage, a soldier relaxes after his shift.	Here are lower pair of floors of the stair tower.	And the upper floors.


Back outside we've arrived at the Clock Yard, with its tiny shrine to the Virgin, and two enterainers.	Looks like that fish is a day or two too old!	Plans are made for possible military excursions or expeditions.	With a bit of a mess above them in an unused attic.	Looks likely another fellow is ready for his shift on the watch, and perhaps a bit of innocent flirtation.


The ladies appear to have other things on their minds.	I wonder what these monks will be pondering today?	Ahh, the Arms Patio is being put to proper use. Ten hut!	Above them, routine (but likely delicious) tasks are being carried out.	Oh oh. Several soldiers with a bit too much time on their hands goofing off in the Royal Treasury.


Another fellow getting ready for his work day. Nice painting!	And what might we be looking for?	Every chance for a bath must be utilized!	These guards are not fully concentrating on their jobs...	...but way more than this fellow. Say 'cheese'.


High up in the Guards Quarters in the Tower of John II.	And a view of the roof of the Tower with its dozen classic Spanish turrets (eight constructed).	And we're back to the front of the massive castle.	Hope you've enjoyed the tour, chimneys and all!	And I've assembled the cast of minifigs of the Alcazar of Segovia to take a final bow, for their perseverance and patience throughout the construction and teardown of the 70,661 element model!

Build Your Own Usually I'm happy to share my plans and elevations, but the Alcazar is close to 500 feet long, the Lego model a bit over 11½ feet long, and my plan and elevations almost 5 feet long. I cannot copy this at home, but if you think you must have the plans anyway, contact me for cost estimates.

Where Plan & Elevations usually are...


The Alcazar from a satellite.	The Patio de Armas [Gunyard] looking east	And the west end of the same Arms Patio.	The Small Courtyard looking east...	...and the west view with the Chapel wall on the right.


Here are two panoramas on Oct. 17 from the ENE...	...and the NW.	By the next day a lot more supports for the floors and courtyards have been added.