Why You Should Go on Every IES Abroad Field Trip

This semester I’ve traveled to some of the most famous cities and landmarks in the world. I’ve watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night from the Seine River, taken in the Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge, and in just a couple days I’ll be exploring the Acropolis in Athens. These memories and all their beauty will forever live in my brain. But so too will a few tiny towns in Spain that I bet you’ve never heard of! I know for sure that I’d never heard of Cáceres, Mérida, Segovia, or El Escorial, and that would still be true today if it weren’t for IES Abroad’s monthly field trips. 

At IES Abroad Madrid, you’re given the option to partake in free field trips to nearby cities and historical sites. These are the kinds of places that the average tourist might not hear about, but they carry rich historical significance in Spain and all of Europe. Here’s a few places I’ve gotten to see on these trips:

The Alcázar of Segovia might look familiar to Americans. That’s because the 12th century castle was so impressive, it inspired Walt Disney’s designs for a number of Disney castles, both in films and at Disneyworld. Tucked away just an hour northwest of Madrid, Segovia is a relatively small town at the base of the Guadaramma Mountains. Yet what it lacks in population, it certainly makes up for with the grandeur of the Alcázar. Originally built as a Roman fortress, the Alcázar has changed hands multiple times, first to the Moorish empire that controlled Spain for hundreds of years, then to the Castilian kings who came to power via the Reconquista. All this history is reflected in the castle: within the structure you can find architecture and other features from each civilization. And if you’re not fully impressed with what I think is the coolest castle in Spain, just take a brief stroll through town towards the Cathedral of Segovia and the city’s famous Roman aqueduct. I won’t add any more descriptors for these monuments–just look them up online and you’ll understand how beautiful these landmarks are.

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is one of the most beautiful historical sites I’ve ever seen. Built to serve as the residence of King Phillip Ⅱ during the 16th century, the site also has a monastery, basilica, pantheon, library, museum, university, school, and hospital. I’m pretty sure it could run as a city just on its own. Touring the site, I got to see beautiful Renaissance architecture, the tombs of Spanish kings and their families, and there just so happened to be a live wedding going on at the Basilica. Safe to say, there’s a chance I could have been dreaming all this up. It was that spectacular.

Both of these trips were completely free, led by tour guides who were experts on each site, and they included a free meal at local restaurants. If it wasn’t for these field trips, I’m not sure I would have known these places even existed. My main takeaway from these experiences: if you’re given the option, you better sign up for IES Abroad Day Trips.