SEGOVIA, one of the four provinces into which Old Castille, in Spain, is divided. It is generally an open and arid district, with scanty water, and little to merit description, except its capital, and the royal residences of Ildefonso and the Escurial, each of which is described under its appropriate article. The extent of the province is 290 square leagues, and its population amounts to 221,379 souls. The greater part of the province is destined to feed merino flocks, and the largest portion, particularly those with the finest wool, are shorn within it, as the weather is sufficiently warm to enable the sheep to bear that operation without feeling any inconvenience. Though it grows wine, oil, and corn, the harvests are by no means adequate to the consumption, and their wants must be supplied from other lands than their own. It is watered by the Ebro, the Cresma, the Xarama, and the Duraton; and it possesses mineral springs at Cinchon, Caballar, and Bartariejo. It belongs to the captain-generalship of Zamora.

Segovia, a city of Spain, and capital of the province of the same name, in Old Castille. It is situated on the right bank of the river Duero, not far from its source, and near to the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Numantia. Around it are most excellent pastures for sheep, and the wool of the best of the merinos takes its name from this city. The usual quantity of fine wool annually sent from this city is about 2,250,000 lbs., and the management of such extensive concerns necessarily creates considerable trade. There is in this city a manufactory of fine cloths, cassimeres, and other articles composed of the native wool, which is carried on by the government.

The remains of antiquity in this city are, however, the most interesting attractions to all travellers. The aqueduct, of very ancient construction, is yet in perfect preservation, and still conveys the water to the city. It is carried over one of the suburbs or arches, some of which are a hundred and four feet in height; the arches are in double rows, one above the other, and on the uppermost a channel is made, covered with large flag-stones, through which the water runs. It is a wonderful relic of antiquity, on account of the excellence of the masonry, which has withstood the ravages of time for so many centuries. The period of its erection is doubtful. The Spaniards, who delight in tracing every ancient monument to the highest antiquity, ascribe it to Hercules; it is, however, evidently of Roman construction, and none give it a later date than the reign of Trajan. It discovers as yet no marks of decay, and as the city to which it conveys water is on the top of a rock, if it were demolished the inhabitants would be greatly distressed for that necessary of life.

The ancient castle, or alcazar, is another of the curiosities of Segovia. It stands on a rude mass of rocks overlooking the surrounding country, whose base is washed by[7:20:77] a rapid and limpid stream, whilst the houses of the city stretch themselves from it in both directions, and terminate in woody declivities. It is an astonishing pile of building, and contains some apartments of stupendous extent. The foundation and the lower part of the walls are obviously of Roman origin, whilst the upper part, and what may be called the keep, are as plainly the execution of the Moors, whose contrivances for shooting their arrows at the heads of assailants, without being themselves subject to annoyance, are in the most perfect preservation. Within this castle is a state-prison, which is well described by Le Sage in his Adventures of Gil Bias. A part of the building is used by the artillery department of government. The mint is below the castle, and furnished with all the machinery requisite for coining money, which is principally set in motion by water.

The cathedral of Segovia is one of the most complete specimens of the later Gothic style of architecture of any religious edifice in Spain. Excepting the antiquities of this celebrated city, the rest deserves little notice. The streets are crooked and narrow. Many of the houses are of wood, and most of them very dirty; and in spite of the great trade carried on in wool by some individuals, an air of poverty pervades the mass of the inhabitants.

Segovia, a town of America, in Terra Firma, and in the province of Venezuela, situated on a river, near a very high mountain, where there are mines of gold. Long. 65. 30. W. Lat 8. 20. N.

Segovia, a town of Asia, in the island of Manilla, and one of the largest of the Philippines, situated at the north end of the island, 240 miles north of Manilla, and subject to Spain. Long. 120. 50. E. Lat. 18. 36. N.

Segovia, New, a town of North America, in New Spain, and in the audiencia of Guatimala, situated on the river Yare, on the confines of the province of Honduras. Long. 84. 30. W. Lat. 13. 25. N.