Pedraza, in the province of Segovia and just an hour and a half drive from Madrid, is one of those places that in winter seem the scene of a Christmas movie directed by Nancy Meyers.
Situated on a hill over 1,000 meters above sea level, the town lies between mountains and meadows and, when the cold fronts arrive, snow is a more than possible option, so much so that the AEMET forecasts that some flakes will fall next week.
Life in Pedraza is concentrated around the Plaza Mayor, irregular and arcaded, flanked by stone houses with noble coats of arms and wooden balconies, many of them converted into inns where the lamb roasted in a wood oven and Castilian soups. The snow, when it sets, redraws that space in which the arcades become shelter, the facades become even more photogenic and each step on the cobblestone sounds muffled.
From there starts the Calle Mayor, a short but intense axis that leads to the great Pedraza Castle, a 13th century fortress remodeled by the Velasco family and restored in the 20th century, today converted into a cultural space and a privileged viewpoint over the white landscape of the Segovian countryside.
Winter getaway to Pedraza
Pedraza’s winter charm is undoubtedly in its medieval buildings such as the old prison next to the entrance door, the viewpoints overlooking the valleys of Vadillo, the fireplaces that announce braziers lit inside bars and rural lodgings, the stone churches. On snowy days, the town becomes even more secluded and silent; the walls, the Torre de la Hontanilla and the defensive remains recall its impregnable past, while visitors stroll with scarf and hat, camera in hand, linking walk, lunch and long coffee to shelter from the cold.
Its perfectly preserved heritage, declared a Historic Site and considered one of the most beautiful villages of Castilla y Leon, adds the high probability of seeing snow in December and January thanks to its altitude and location between mountains. For a short weekend getaway the ideal is to leave Madrid early, arrive in just over an hour and a half, stroll through its streets, eat lamb in the heat of the oven and return in the evening with the feeling of having spent the day in a unique environment.