Segovia lies north of Madrid on a rocky ridge between the Castilian plain and the Sierra de Guadarrama. Its old town is characterised by honey-coloured stone, timber-framed houses, narrow streets and arcaded squares, dominated by the remarkable Roman aqueduct, the Gothic cathedral and the Alcázar rising at the end of the ridge. The surrounding countryside is largely agricultural, with cereals, sheep and extensive market gardening, while the nearby mountains provide woodland and pasture. What distinguishes Segovia from many Castilian towns is the way its Roman, medieval and royal histories remain so clearly visible together, with the aqueduct still forming an integral part of the modern city.