The Alc?zar of Segovia (literally, Segovia Castle) is a castle, located in the old city of Segovia, Spain. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of two rivers near the Guadarrama mountains. It is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape ? like the bow of a ship. The Alc?zar was originally built as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy since then.