EXCURSIONS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED IN SEGOVIA
Here is a list of the typical excursions offered on our Segovia Program. Note that actual excursion schedules are determined at the start of each term and not all options may be offered every term.

ALL SESSIONS

Day Trips (Four to Six offered each term)

Avila and Salamanca Typical activities include:
- In Salamanca , visit the Roman Bridge, two cathedrals, the University of Salamanca, the Baroque style Main Square, and the house of Shells and the Clergy
- in Avila visit the 12th century old city and surrounding walls, and learn about the life of Saint Teresa of Avila in the cathedral

La Granja de San Ildefonso Typical activities include:
-Visit the 18th century palace, gardens and fountains
-Visit to the Glass Museum with glass blowing demonstration

Madrid Typical activities include: 
- Visit to the Prado Museum of classical art, with paintings from Rembrandt, Velázquez, Goya and more
- Visit to the Reina Sofia Museum, a contemporary art museum housing paintings of Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró among many other artists from the 20th century

Valley of the Fallen and El Escorial Typical activities include:
- Visit to the royal palace of El Escorial, including the museum, basilica, monastery, and the the pantheon housing the tombs of the kings and queens of Spain
- Visit to the Valley of the Fallen, built by General Francisco Franco for the 50,000 soldiers who died during the Spanish Civil War.

"Route of the Castles" Typical activities include:
-Visits to two castles in the province of Segovia, Coca,  Cuéllar, or Turegano castles
-Visit to one of the nearby medieval towns or a winery
-Visit the prehistoric Cave of Junipers in Pradena

Toledo Typical activities include:
- Visit to the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
- Visit to El Transito medieval synagogue and the Sephardi museum
- Visit the Church of Santo Tome to see the famous Greco painting "El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz."

FALL AND SPRING

Andalucia Three-Day Trip  Typical activities include:
Còrdoba:
-    Visit to the "Mezquita", formerly the Grand Mosque and now Cathedral
-    Visit to the Alcazar and the Medina Azahara
Seville or Granada:
-     In Granada, guided visit to the Alhambra
-     In Seville, visits to the cathedral, the Plaza de España, Maria Luisa Park, and the Reales

OTHER ACTIVITIES typically offered each session:

Walking tours of Segovia

Visits to sites of interest in and around Segovia are scheduled as part of the program and in some cases in relation to specific content courses.  These activities typically include museums, cultural sites, historical monuments, and local organizations relevant to the courses.

Conversation partner program with Spanish students

Optional dance classes (additional fee), including salsa, flamenco, and belly dancing

CULTURAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN SEGOVIA:

In addition to program-sponsored activities, there are many local cultural events and activities that students can take advantage of.  Your site director and staff will provide information about these events when you arrive on site.  Some examples include:
 
Optional music lessons (additional fee)

Interested students can sign up with local teams for soccer, tennis, and basketball; access to swimming, fencing, and track and field opportunities can be arranged.

Cultural festivals and events throughout the year include:

January 5th- 6th: celebration of the Three Wise Men on Epiphany

February:
- There is an old tradition celebrated still today of a nearby Segovian village, where women rule for a day.  It is a big celebration with lots of food and drink.
- Segovia celebrates its  Carnaval with lots of parades, music and dancing

March: A week of Sacred Music marks the beginning of Holy Week with the many religious processions and traditional events

April: a popular month for book fairs and arts and crafts fairs

May:
- Short Film fesitval
-Titirimundi is a 10 day occasion where puppeteers and marionettes from all over the world fill the streets, patios and public buildings with practically non-stop performances

June:
- Segovia celebrates its fiestas and fairs for over a week, which include a fairground with rides and booths and concerts, dances and bullfights in one of the oldest bullrings of Spain.
-St. Peter's night, June 29th: marks the end of the Segovian fairs and fiestas with impressive fireworks

July:
- Chamber Music festival
- Youth concerts
- The International Music and Dance festival
- Open Festival (music festival)
- Folk Segovia (dance and music festival)
All these festivals have musicians and performers from all over the world

September: Segovia has its annual Hay Festival, a literary festival.   Well-known authors come to Segovia for debates, interviews or literary discussions on their works or others

October 24th: celebration of San Frutos the Patron Saint of Segovia.  Garlic soup is prepared and served for thousands of Segovians, and its visitors, followed by a dance held in the Main Square of the city at midnight

November: annual week-long European Film Festival, MUCES

December: ceramics, arts and crafts fair held in town prior to the Christmas holidays