Traveling is a fun thing. Trips to countries, especially those that have a long and fascinating history of their development, allow you to combine relaxation with the expansion of the general horizons. Particularly interesting in this regard is sunny Spain with its picturesque towns, which contain many secrets and mysteries of past centuries.
Toledo is a small picturesque town that embodies many interesting historical facts and preserves the magnificent architecture of past times. The city is located above the level of the river Tagus at an altitude of 100 meters. For tourists it is guaranteed a fascinating journey through the charming streets and wonderful sights of the city.
City of Toledo
Sights in Spain, both architectural and historical, are in almost all cities, all of which are of particular interest to tourists. Toledo can be called a museum that stores the imprints of several eras, brutal wars, religious and political events.
This is the ancient capital of the state of Spain, as well as one of the most wonderful places on the planet. No wonder the famous painter El Greco, inspired by his love for this city, captured various corners of his in his many works. The city keeps traces of the most different periods. These are the walls and the arena of the times of Rome, a huge Gothic cathedral, the castle of Alcazar, etc.
Small and compact, Toledo is literally dotted with multiple narrow pavements laid at various times. They form a kind of labyrinth in which it is quite possible to get lost without having a tourist map of the city or a guidebook with you. By the way, they can be purchased at the bus station or railway station.
It is important for tourists to know that it is impossible to visit all the sights of Toledo in a short time. The route of independent visits to the most interesting places must be planned in advance, depending on the number of days of rest in this city.
Old part of town
This part of the city consists of only two blocks. The historical center includes ancient medieval buildings surrounded by a fortified wall, as well as a labyrinth of narrow streets and a large number of monuments. All this is under the protection of UNESCO.
Once in the center of Toledo, a man comes into contact with the Middle Ages. Surprisingly, this place is almost untouched by time. Of course, most of the attractions of Toledo have not been preserved, but what is left here can tell a lot about this town. For several centuries, representatives of different faiths and different cultures have been neighbors in it, therefore this Spanish city, like Jerusalem, deservedly received the title of “city of three cultures”. In its architecture there is an imprint of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It should be noted that in the architecture of the city there is an influence of Arab culture. This is noticeable in the design of the gate, the decor of fragments of buildings and arches.
Below are the most popular attractions of Toledo.
Alcazar Palace in Toledo
Without a doubt, the main attraction is the fortress-palace of Alcazar. It is impossible not to notice it, since it is located at the highest point of the city. The location of the fortress built in the 3rd century turned out to be ideal for defending the city and repelling enemy attacks. This palace for many centuries experienced numerous fires and sieges. The building was restored several times. Today, this magnificent palace has almost no hint that it was once completely turned into ruins.
The facades of the Alcazar fascinate with its beauty, reflecting various eras. The building itself is rectangular. It towers angular towers with pyramidal roofs and pointed spiers. Today, this building, once the royal residence, is a museum. This is one of the most striking sights of Spain (Toledo).
Castle of san cervando
This place is one of the most visited by tourists. It is impossible to look away from a fortress built of strong gray stone.
Of strategic importance (as a defensive fortification), this structure was erected near the Tagus River. From its tall towers there was an excellent view of the road and the river, which made it possible to control the surroundings. At the main gate of San Servando, visitors enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city.
Cathedral of Toledo
When viewing the sights of Toledo, the excursion route should be planned so that it includes the magnificent church of St. Mary of Toledo. Today, this Catholic church is one of the main active cathedrals throughout Spain. Its bell tower is located on a tower 90 meters high. The cathedral is made in the Gothic style, its interior is admired by unimaginable wealth. The stained-glass windows in the amount of 700 pieces give it special beauty, through which sunlight penetrates, creating an indescribable atmosphere of mystery.
An interesting fact is that the cathedral was built over several centuries. Today it is the residence of the bishop of the city of Toledo. Admission is free for those who wish to attend church services. The rest of the time he works as a museum.
El Greco House Museum
In this city lived El Greco - the famous Spanish artist, sculptor and Renaissance architect. He came here when he was 35 years old, and he settled in a modest mansion, lost in the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter. The artist lived in this city until his very last days. Today this house is a museum, where the spirit of the past reigns, embodied in unusual flooring, antique furniture and the artist’s preserved things.
In this museum you can get real pleasure not only from the magnificent works of El Greco, but also from the masterpieces of many Spanish sculptors and artists who created in the XVI-XVII centuries. This attraction of Toledo is especially interesting for true lovers of painting.
St. Martin's Bridge
A rather interesting place in Toledo is the medieval bridge made of stone and passing over the river. Tacho. The oldest building consists of five arches: two on each side and the largest in the middle. The bridge begins and ends with hexagonal towers, on one of which the coat of arms of the city of Toledo is displaced in the form of a two-headed eagle.
This bridge leads to the central historical part of the city, and on the other side of it there is a view of the magnificent monastery of the Catholic Kings.
Inquisition Museum
An unusual and creepy place is the Inquisition Museum. It presents torture objects from different times: guillotine, masks of shame, garrot, chastity belt , etc. Guides describe in detail the harsh times of the Inquisition in Spain. Tourists plunge into that terrible time when such cruel methods of punishment were present. Each subject of the exhibition is imbued with the spirit of ruthlessness of people of past eras.
Museum de Santa Cruz
Among the famous attractions of Toledo can be called this museum, located in the building of the former hospital. This architectural structure stands out from other buildings in the city. It looks more solemn thanks to the fact that it is built of marble and stone, giving the building pink and white tones. At the construction of several floors. On the highest tier, Byzantine capitals and the coat of arms of the surname Mendos are visible. The facade of the main building attracts special attention - it is decorated with a beautifully decorated portal. The museum itself exhibited paintings by artists, historical artifacts and crafts.
Church of St. Thomas
A little further from the city square of Toledo is a modest, but quite attractive church of St. Thomas. It is interesting that this structure was erected on the spot where the mosque used to be. The Count de Orgas was the founder of the church. In honor of him, the artist El Greco painted a picture on a huge canvas (20 square meters). Its name is "The Burial of Count de Orgas." The canvas is the main place in the church.
The modest interior of the temple is also very beautiful. The marble font, the altar image, the image of the Virgin Mary and other paintings by artists are especially noteworthy. The external decoration is the bell tower.
Gates of the Sun in Toledo
You can safely be ranked among the most beautiful sights of Toledo and the so-called Gate of the Sun. They were built in the XII century. The design with its ornaments resembles the Arabs who once dominated these places. Two centuries later, the gate was restored. Externally, they are pointed towers of circular and square cross-section. During the construction, pink stones and bricks were used.
Above the span of the arch there is a triangular marble relief, which depicts a scene from the life of the Toledo archbishop - St. Idelfonso (VII century).
How to get from Madrid?
Many independently visit the city of Toledo. A detailed guide is a good helper in this matter. If in terms of attractions it has become more or less clear, then how to get to this wonderful city, you should also worry in advance.
The city of Toledo is located about an hour's drive south from the capital of Spain. The route is 71 km long. Usually, Toledo is reached by public transport (bus or train).
A bus from Madrid to Toledo leaves from Plaza El'ptica Station from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM every 30 minutes. The station is located at the metro station of the same name. In Toledo, a bus arrives at the bus station. From it to the old town you can walk or take bus routes No. 5 and No. 12.
High-speed trains to Toledo from Madrid leave from the main train station - Madrid-Atocha. They go from 6:50 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. It should be noted that the train travels more expensive, but faster. And the railway station in Toledo is a valuable architectural monument.
Reviews
Tourists are pleased with the numerous attractions of Toledo. What is a must visit if there are restrictions on the time of rest? According to many people who have visited this city, the following things should be done:
- enjoy the canvases of the painter El Greco in the chapel of Sa Tom and in the Cathedral;
- admire the amazing panorama from the tower of the Jesuit church;
- Get to know the beautiful legend associated with St. Martin's Bridge;
- on a long river Tahoe to send a paper boat on a happy journey to Lisbon.
Many advise you to purchase a special card for tourists - "Toledo Card". She for a certain time provides a free set of some services for which you will not have to pay extra. Moreover, there are several options for such cards. Some tourists say that they are only profitable if there are lines everywhere. In this case, you don’t have to waste time buying tickets to museums, etc.
Reviews of absolutely all tourists who have ever visited this amazing town are the most enthusiastic. The only thing that depresses everyone is the inability to visit all the attractions in one week. So, there is a reason to go again to Toledo.