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World Heritage City Toledo
was once the capital city of Spain, and it still retains the atmosphere and aura
which are characteristic of so many European capital cities. Toledo is a magic
place, probably one of the most spectacular cities in the world. The buildings
and winding streets contained within the old city walls hold hundreds of years
of history, and the River Tajo which runs alongside the city walls adds to its
charm and beauty.
A day trip to Toledo is included
in the itinerary of most holidaymakers
in Madrid, so inevitably the
streets and monuments are
often packed with national
and international tourists.
If you want to avoid the crowds,
try visiting Toledo mid-week
during the low-season months.
The city has a long tradition
of catering for tourists and
has an ample selection of
hotels and restaurants, as
well as the inevitable gift
and souvineer shops spilling
out onto the streets.
The province of Toledo offers
the visitor a wide choice
of possibilities. Very cold
in the Winter months and very
hot in the Summer, the local
economy mainly relies on tourism,
wine-making and farming. Some
areas of Toledo province are
famous for producing high-quality
pottery and others still make
high-quality furniture. Other
characteristic Toledan products
include swords and other weapons
and lace and embroidered materials.
The
City of Toledo
During the 13th century Toledo
became one of the few places
in Spain where Moors, Christians
and Jews managed to live together
and tolerate eachother more
or less peacefully (although
not as idyllicly as some history
accounts would have us believe),
and the singular combination
of styles and cultures which
resulted from this period
in Toeldo's history is one
of the city's unique characteristics.
Visitors can still admire
the remains of churches, mosques
and sinagogues built during
this time.
Toledo became a fortified city under Roman occupation - its location
and the River Tajo made it an ideal fortress, and from that moment on the city
became one of Spain's most important political, economic and cultural centres.
The Visigods named Toledo their capital, and it retained its importance under
Arab occupation. When the Spanish armies regained control of the city, it became
the official residence to the Spanish Kings and Queens until the 16th Century.
What to do and see in the City of Toledo
.jpg) The
best way to start a visit
to Toledo is to park outside
the city walls (there are
plenty of carparks), get a
map in the tourist information
center just opposite the Puerta
de Bisagra, and enter
the old city through this
majestic stone gate. It is
possible to visit all the
main attractions within the
walled city on foot and even
though you can't do them justice
in such a short time, it is
perfectly feasible to get
round them all in one day.
If you have more than a day,
use the first few hours to
walk around, get a feeling
of the place, enjoy the winding
streets seeped in history
and culture, and get familiar
with the names of places and
monuments before actually
entering inside.
Historical
Monuments in Toledo - Alcázar: This outstanding castle
is one of Toledo's most emblematic monuments and was used as a fortress by Romans,
Visigods, Arabs and Christians. King Alfonso VI built his residence here and some
of Spain's most prestigious artists and architects intervened in the construction
of the royal palace. It was destroyed in the 18th century during the War of Succession,
reconstructed only to be badly damaged a few years later in a fire and rebuilt
yet again. The last time the palace was destroyed was during the outbreak of the
Spanish Civil War and it was repaired when the War ended.
- Cathedral of Toledo:
Founded in the 1st Century
by San Eugenio, the first
Bishop of Toledo. It was
changed into a mosque by
the Arabs during Moorish
occupation of Spain, and
then converted back into
a cathedral by Alfonso VI.
In the 13th Century it was
destroyed and the impressive
Gothic building which can
be seen today was built
on the old cathedral's foundations.
- Monastery of San Juan de
los Reyes: 15th century monastery, Gothic style which was built on Royal demand
during the reign of the Catholic King and Queen.
- Monastery Cisterciense
de Santo Domingo de Silos: 16th century monastery with paintings of El Greco
who is buried here. The Spanish artist painted the church. The monks who still
live in the monastery sell home-made sweets and pastries to visitors
.jpg) Puerta
Bisagra: The main entrance to the old City of Toledo. What appears to be one
amazing stone gateway is infact two: the old gate which was built during the Moorish
occupation of Toledo in the 6th and 7th centuries, and the new gate which extended
the original and was built in the 16th century. This is the best way to start
a visit to Toledo since there is ample car parking space on both sides of the
Puerta and a very good Tourist Info just opposite on the other side of the main
road.- Sinagogue El Tránsito: 13th century sinagogue with
a museum inside which describes the history of the Jewish population in Toledo
and the influence the Jews had on local culture and events.
- Sinagogue
of Saint María la Blanca: Today this former sinagogue is a crafts museum
with interesting pottery and wooden exhibits.
- Taller del Moro:
Built in the 14th century by the Jews and, when they were expelled from Toledo,
converted by a religous order into a church. The original Hebrew writings on the
upper walls can still be seen today.
Museums in Toledo - Museum
of El Greco: The famous Spanish painter El Greco lived in this house which
today has an impressive exhibition of his paintings, awell as exhibits of other
artists.
- Museum of Contemporary Art: Set in la Casa de las Cadenas,
an interesting 16th century building this art gallery has exhibitions of 20th
century artists
- Museum of Santa Cruz: 16th century building that
used to be a hospital. Lovely patio and stairway. Exhibits works of art, tapestries
and artefacts found in archeogical excavations.
- Museum of the Fundación
Duque de Lerma: Also known as Hospital de Tavera because Cardinal Tavera
ordered it to be built in the fifteen hundreds. There is a statue of Tavera under
the dome of the church.
- Museum de los Concilios y Cultura Visigoda:
with exhibits from the Visigod period, set in the church San Román.
- Museum
of Victorio Macho: What used to be the home of Macho, a famous sculptor, is
now a museum containing some of his best known sculptures.
- Museum
Parroquía de Santo Tomé: This museum is where El Greco's most
famous painting, The Buriel of the Count of Orgaz (El Entierro del Conde de
Orgaz) is exhibited
Fiestas in Toledo: The Corpus Christi
celebrations held in Toledo are famous all over Spain. As in most of Castilla
la Mancha, Toledo also takes its Easter Week processions very seriously indeed.
And the local fiestas are held form 15th to 20th August. .jpg) .jpg) What
to buy in Toledo: There are lots of souvenir shops in Toledo, and they all
seem to have the same stock on offer: swords (for centuries Toledo has been renowned
for the steel blades made for knives and swords), walking sticks, models of Don
Quijote, painted tiles, copies of El Greco paintings, local wines and liquors
and pieces of lace and embroidered cloths and other local crafts. If you want
to buy local produce, try Toledan marzipan, excellent local cheeses (different
versions of the popular Manchego cheese are made throughout the Province of Toledo)
and hams.
What to eat in Toledo: Toledo is famous
for its roast meats and stews. Typical local dishes include estofada de perdiz
(partridge casserole), el cuchifrito (an original dish made with lamb,
tomato, egg, saffron and white wine), judias con perdiz (a bean and partridge
stew), roast lamb and roast suckling pig and, during hunting season, wild game.
Where to eat in Toledo: Click on Restaurants
in Toledo for a description of the best restaurants in Toledo. Tapas
bars in Toledo: There isn't an abundance of tapas bars in Toledo but there
are a few very good ones. If you fancy a quick tapas meal so that you can concentrate
on visiting as many sights as you can in a limited spaceof time, try Ludeña
(in Plaza de la Magdalena), La Abadía (in Nuñez de Arce)
or La Tabernita (in Santa Fe). Outside the old quarter, try Di Vino
(Chile, 2).
Where to stay in Toledo: Click on hotels
in Toledo for a description of the best hotels in Toledo. What
to see and do in the Province of Toledo Toledo is a very diverse province
with flat plains, tall mountains and sierras, rivers, hunting reserves and some
lovely small towns and villages. Oropesa: Beautiful Medieval village
which retains all its rural and historical charm. The Parador of Oropesa was one
of the first parador hotels to open in Spain, and is a lovely renovated 16th century
house. With just over 2000 inhabitants, and several 16th and 17th century buildings
of interest, it is possible to walk around the village in a couple of hours. Lagartera:
This curious village just 2 km from Oropesa is famous for its women who produce
vast amounts of embroidered cloths, aprons, sheets, curtains, tablecloths.....
On fine days you can see groups of women sitting together and embroidering as
they chat in patios or even on the street.  Talavera
de la Reina: 76km from Toledo set on the banks of the River Tajo, Talavera
is the second largest city in the province. Famous for its pottery and tiles.
Some interesting monuments and churches, and an amazing 15th century bridge, Puente
de Santa Catalina, with 35 arches.
 Tembleque:
55 km. from Toledo, this beautiful village has two amazing squares, Plaza Mayor
and Plaza de la Orden which are joined by an arch and have beautiful galleries.
Villacañas: Small town 80km from Toledo with curious underground
houses called silos. Impressive 16th century gothic church - Iglesa Parroquial
de la Asunción. Los Yébenes: 42 km. from Toledo and
set in the Sierra de Los Yébenes. Interesting castle - Castillo de Guadalerzas
- built in the 12th century during the reign of Alfonso VII and last restored
in the 18th century. 86km from Los Yebenes on the road towards Ciudad Real lies
the Cabañeros National Park (Pueblo Nuevo de Bullaque). Guided visits must
be booked in advance. Illescas: 35km from Toledo, this small town
owes its historical importance to its strategic location between Castilla de la
Mancha and Castilla de Leon. The Castilian royals sometimes stayed here, and Francisco
I of France was imprisoned here. Some remains of the old wall can still be seen.
The main attraction today for most visitors is El Bohío, considered by
experts to be the best restaurant in the province of Toledo and one of the best
in Spain.  Related:
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