We took advantage of the recent Bank Holiday to revisit breathtaking Toledo and on this post I'm telling you all about it. This is the ultimate travel guide to visiting Toledo. Here you'll find all you need to know about this Spanish city to plan a day trip. It includes a brief history of Toledo, things to do and see, a review of the luxurious Parador hotel, tips on the best gifts to buy and advice on getting there.
Toledo is one of the most important cities in the history of Spain. It's often referred to as the City of Three Cultures: Islamic, Jewish and Christian. In this melting pot these different cultures left their footprint in various ways. One of the most famous examples of cooperation was the creation of the School of Translators in the 12th century, which helped to preserve a significant amount of knowledge.
The origins of Toledo can be traced back to Roman times. In the 6th century the city converted to Catholicism and became the capital of Hispania (Spain). In the year 712 AD, Toledo was conquered by the Moors. That is the same year when Jewish people are believed to have arrived. In the year 1085, Toledo was retaken by Christians but many people from the other cultures chose to stay. All three cultures lived in harmony until 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, expelled the Jews from Toledo. Moorish legacy began to fade in the 15th century as well.
In 1519, under the rule of Charles V, Toledo became the most important city in the world, known as the Imperial Capital. This period was brief but very beneficial for the city in terms of heritage. Finally, in 1561 King Philip II decided to move the court permanently to Madrid.
Doménikos Theotokópoulos a.k.a. El Greco (The Greek) is one of the most important painters in Spain. He moved from Greece to Spain in the 16th century and in Toledo he produced his most famous paintings. He was ahead of his time and gave a personal and unique touch to Rennaisance style.
In Toledo you can visit El Greco Museum and see his best-known work, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, in Santo Tome's church.
EL PARADOR HOTEL AND VANTAGE POINT
If you follow the blog, you know about our passion for luxury hotel chain Paradores. They are much more than hotels, they are landmarks and in Toledo's case, also a vantage point.
Toledo’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with heritage from all three cultures: Jewish, Islamic and Christian.
These are the best things to do in Toledo:
- Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes: commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs, this monastery houses the most beautiful cloister I've seen so far.
- Iglesia de Santo Tome: the architecture of this church has both Islamic and Christina influence while being located in the Jewish Quarter. Here's where you can see the Burial of the Count of Orgaz painting by El Greco.
- The Cathedral: this example of Gothic cathedral was built on what used to be a mosque, like many other Christian churches across the country.
- Plaza de Zocodover: Toledo's lively main square.
- Alcazar of Toledo: alcazar is an Islamic word that means palace or fortress of Moorish origin. The one in Toledo is the highest point in the city and it was meant as a royal residence for Charles V. Nowadays it houses a public library and the army museum.
- Visit El Greco Museum
- Don't forget those jaw-dropping views from El Parador!
Toledo has been known for sword-making and steel-working for century. One of the most popular things to buy in Toledo are swords and steel figures.
If you are not a GOT fan, but have a sweet tooth, you should know that marzipan from Toledo is very famous in Spain. We usually eat it during Christmas but here you can find it all year long.
Our favorite place to buy sweets are convents and in Toledo we fixed our cravings thanks to Convento de San Antonio de Padua.
There are buses and trains going from Madrid (see Google Maps), however the fastest option is by car. The problem is parking, as usual. The best thing to do is to use one of the parking lots outside of the Old Town. There's a free one opposite the bus station called Safont but gets full quickly on weekends and holidays so go there as early as possible. There's a car-park attendant at the gate and you are expected to give him a few coins but you don't have to pay anything else.
GET THE LOOK
You can find my shorts here and me sneakers here.
I hope you enjoyed this guide with all you need to know about Toledo. If you liked this post, spread the love by pinning and sharing it!
