Toledo is one of the Spanish cities with the greatest wealth of monuments. Known as the “city of the three cultures”, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together there for centuries, behind its walls Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. This great diversity of artistic styles makes the old quarter of the capital of La Mancha a real open-air museum, which has led to it being declared a World Heritage Site. Toledo is famed for its ceramics, and above all for the religious festival of the Corpus Christi, awarded the designation of International Tourist Interest. The local gastronomy features particularly stews and game meats. more information
Must see in Toledo
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Toledo Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, also called Primate Cathedral of Toledo, Spain, seat of the Archdiocese of Toledo, is one of the three 13th century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain.
It was begun in 1226 during the reign of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century when, in 1493, the vaults of the central nave were finished, during the times of the Catholic Monarchs. It was modeled after Bourges Cathedral, although its five naves plan is the consequence of the constructors' intention to cover all of the sacred space of the former city mosque with the cathedral, and of the former sahn with the cloister. It also combines some characteristics of the Mudéjar style, mainly in the cloister, and with the presence of multifoiled arches in the triforium. The spectacular incorporation of light and the structural achievements of the ambulatory vaults are some of its more remarkable aspects. It is built with white stone from Olihuelas, close to Toledo.
It is popularly known as Dives Toletana (in the sense of the rich Toledan).
| Visit Information |
| Address: |
Plaza Ayuntamiento, s/n - 45002 TOLEDO |
| Phone: |
+34 925 222 241 |
| Opening Time: |
Monday to Saturday: 10.30 - 18.30 h
Sundays and Holidays: 14.00 - 18.00 h |
| Tickets: |
6 € |
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Church of Santo Tome - The Burial of Lord of Orgaz
The main attraction of this little church is the "The Burial of Lord of Orgaz" painting by El Greco. This painting shows San Esteban and San Agustin after the death of Don Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, Lord of Orgaz, who appeared to bury him. The painting is divided in two parts: the lower part depicts the portrait of earthly life while the top part shows the heavenly and divine elements. Some things about this painting: El Greco is the bearded gentleman in the middle with the Red Cross and two hands extended; in the handkerchief of the boy you will see its signature; the only woman between more than 50 figures is Virgin Mary and most of the famous characters of Greco's Toledo are portrayed in the painting.
This church was built over the ruins of a Mosque and is topped by a Mudejar tower. From its old vestiges only the beatiful and interesting mudejar tower, in brick, from the 15th century. On its upper two bodies there are groups of 2 and 3 arch windows, festooned with circles. Between them there is a blind archery over small columns. In one of the sides, it is embeded a niche in white marble, and in one of the other sides there is a pate styled cross, both visigothics and easily viewed from the street
| Visit Information |
| Address: |
Plaza del Conde, s/n - 45002 TOLEDO |
| Phone: |
+34 925 256 098 |
| Opening Time: |
Monday to Saturday: 10.00 - 18.00 h |
| Tickets: |
2,30 € |
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Mosque of El Cristo de la Luz
The Spanish Royal Family don't reside at this 3,000-room palace so apart from on the date of an official state function it is open to visitors. A very interesting private tour of the Royal Palace and Prado Museum is available with licensed English speaking tour guide. Other Madrid city tours which include the Royal Palace are also available. |
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The Alcazar of Toledo
The Alcázar of Toledo is a stone fortification located in the highest part of Toledo, Spain. Once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, it was restored under Alfonso VI and Alfonso X and renovated in 1535. During the Spanish Civil War, nationalist Colonel Jose Moscardo Ituarte held the building against overwhelming Spanish Republican forces in the Siege of the Alcazar. The incident became a central piece of Spanish Nationalist lore especially the story of Moscardó's son Luis. The Republicans took Moscardo's 16-year old son Luis hostage, and demanded that the Alcazar be surrendered or they would kill him. Luis told his father "Surrender or they will shoot me," his father replied "then commend your soul to God, shout 'Viva Cristo Rey' and die like a hero."
Moscardo refused to surrender. Contemporary reports indicated that the republicans then executed Moscardó's son. Other historians have reported that Luis was not in fact shot until a month later "in reprisal for an air raid. The dramatic story also camouflages the fact that the fate of a number of male hostages, mainly from the Guardia Civil, taken into the Alcazar at the beginning of the siege is unclear. Some sources say the men "were never heard of again". However at least one journalist who visited the Alcazar in the immediate aftermath of its liberation saw a number of prisoners chained to a railing in a cellar.
The events of the Spanish Civil War at the Alcázar made the structure a symbol for the Spanish Nationalism and inspired the naming of El Alcazar, a far-right newspaper that began during the civil war and ended during the Spanish transition to democracy as the mouthpiece for Bunker, a faction of francoists who opposed reform after Francisco Franco's death.
By the end of the siege, the building had been severely damaged. After the war, it was rebuilt and now houses the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library ("Biblioteca Autonomica") and the Museum of the Army ("Museo del Ejercito").
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Museum of El Greco
This museum has an extensive collection of paintings by this artist of the Spanish Golden Age. Opened in 1911, the museum is located in Toledo's Jewish Quarter. It consists of two buildings: a 16th-century house with a courtyard, and an extension dating from the early 20th century. The two share a garden. The museum contains numerous works by El Greco, especially from this brilliant painter's last period, as well as canvases by other 17th-century Spanish painters, furniture from the same era and ceramics from Talavera de la Reina. |
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Museum of Santa Cruz
This old hospital, now turned into a museum with temporary exhibitions, was built in XVI century. This museum displays a collection of paintings by El Greco, Goya, Ribera, Lucas Jordán, Carducho and other artists from Toledo along with valuable objects like ivory crucifix, Belgian wall-hangings, antique furniture, gold, and silverwork. The archeological exhibits include the skull of a mammoth and artifacts from the Roman, Visigoth, Arabic and mudejar periods. There's an Industrial Arts section where you can see examples of popular culture and local crafts. The most striking features of this plateresque building are its entrance, the elegant courtyard, the grand staircase and the mudejar and Renaissance style ceilings.
| Visit Information |
| Address: |
Miguel de Cervantes 3 - 45001 TOLEDO |
| Phone: |
+34 925 221 036 |
| Opening Time: |
Monday to Saturday: 10.00 - 18.30 h
Sundays and Holidays: 10.00 - 14.00 h |
| Tickets: |
Free |
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Gate of El Sol
The Gate of El Sol is the principal gateway into the wall city of toledo. It was originally built in the 11th century and the present gate you see today was modified in the 14th century. It is the finest Mudejar style gate in Spain, combining strength and harmonious lines. The round towers are built in rubble work, and the matching pointed and horseshoe shaped arches in are granite. The decorative work of the two sets of arches, the parapets and battlements, and the inside of the gate are in brick. This combination of building materials is very common in Mudejar work. |
Toledo Shopping
The gold and black enamel work by local artisans is known throughout Spain. Many shops in Toledo sell decorated plates, sheilds, spoons and key rings.
Sword
Toledo is well known for its swords, so be sure to look for a conquistador sword, which should set you back around US $300. As you can't bring it on a plane, you'll need to send it. Fortunately, many shops will ship it for you for a reasonable price.
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Ceramics
Talavera de la Reina (outside of Toledo) has a centuries-old tradition of glazed ceramics. Toledo is filled with handpainted ceramics of varying degrees of quality (upscale shops and boutiques are pricier, but generally carry higher-quality pieces). |
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Damascene
Another famous handicraft of Toledo is damascene, from the ancient Moorish art of interlacing gold on iron or steel, then firing it so the underlying material oxidizes and becomes black, with the gold in sharp relief. Every shop in Toledo will carry some form of damascene work, most frequently as small decorative plates and jewellery. Damascene also tends to be on the expensive side, so be sure to comparison shop around Toledo. |
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The region around Toledo and southward in Castilla La Mancha produces typical almond sweets known as Mazapan, which is not to be confused with the tough, white icing used on wedding cakes that we call "marzipan". Mazapan is glazed, and sometimes decorated with pine nuts (piñones).
How to get there
BY ROAD: Toledo is approximately 70Km (43 miles) south of Madrid on the A-42 highway. From the centre of Madrid you should head towards Atocha and take the road running due south, called Santa María de la Cabeza. This road to Toledo is well sign-posted. The exit to Toledo is also well sign-posted from the M-30, Madrid's inner ring-road. The journey by car takes less than 1 hour.
BY TRAIN: Regular trains depart daily from Atocha railway station in Madrid for Toledo about every two hours, starting at 7:05 a.m. until 8:25 p.m. The trip takes approximately one hour and a half. The AVE train takes just 35 minutes to complete the journey and there are 10 trains per day.
BY BUS: Buses depart daily for Toledo from the Plaza Eliptica Bus Station in Madrid (Metro: Estación Plaza Elíptica, Avda. Lusitana, s/n). The trip takes approximately one hour fifteen minutes by Alsaa nd tickets have to bought at the station. The station in Toledo is near the river, about three-quarters of a mile from the centre up a steep ascent, although it is possible to take a local bus (numbers 5 or 6).
TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY
Toledo is the perfect city to tour on foot. All of its monuments, museums and places of interest are close to one another, and long distances are not a problem. However, comfortable shoes are a must since many streets are made of stones and cobblestones, and walking can be tedious.
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