General introduction

The Parish of San Andrés de Segovia is inscribed in the profile or skyline of the city in a way that is both discreet and visible. When admiring the silhouette of the city, the first thing one finds is the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and San Frutos, which, due to its 88 meters of height, is visible from several kilometers around.

Afterwards, the elegant architecture of the medieval Alcázar can be seen, with its homage tower and its famous "prow" over the valleys that delimit the city. Finally, among the irregular shapes of the roofs, the bell towers of the more than fifteen medieval churches that the city conserves stand out. Standing out among them is that of San Esteban, for being the tallest of all, and then that of San Andrés, for its emblematic position, its elegant profile and its showy Mudejar-cut brick.

The Parish of San Andrés has always occupied a prominent position in the city. At the time of its construction, back in the 13th century, the church was in a dominant position in the urban fabric. Since, at that time, the old Cathedral of Santa María la Mayor was located in the current Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia, in front of the Alcázar. For this reason, we have to think that originally its tower was much more visible in the profile of the city, being in one of its highest parts and that, at that time, it was only occupied by low buildings. However, with the construction of the current Cathedral (carried out between 1525 and 1768), the city's skyline changed notably as the naves, pinnacles and towers of the new Templo Mayor rose above the profile of its roofs. From this moment on, the tower of San Andrés would occupy the discreet and visible position that has already been alluded to, remaining in the background, but not failing to be noticed by those who contemplate the city.

Torre de San Andrés en una vista general de la ciudad de Segovia en 1562, Anton van der Wyngaerde .