2-370-617 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

The Hall of the Rope in the Alcazar of Segovia, Segovia, Spain, 2007. The hall was named due to a rope which surrounds it. According to Segovian legend, this rope is related to Alfonse X's blasphemy. He ordered this Franciscan rope to be placed there as a sign of penance for his excessive pride. The Alcazar of Segovia was originally built as an Arab fortress, probably in the 12th century. The majority of the current building was constructed during the Middle Ages and the palace was extended on a large scale. The Alcazar's profile resembles an imaginary ship rising above the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. It is preceded by beautiful gardens with statues of Daoiz and Velarde, heroes of the War of Independence. The Old Town of Segovia was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.