Toledo, Spain
An Antipodean travel company serving World Travellers since 1983
Toledo, Spain
History is rich and close when we start a . An hour south of , sitting atop a gorge overlooking the Tagus River, is the magnificent
Often called ‘Imperial City’ because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in . Toledo is a medieval town that has been heavily influenced by its mix of Christian, Jewish and Muslim inhabitants throughout the centuries all are discovered on this with a local . You will find scattered throughout the that reflect Toledo’s ‘three cultures’ and many of the ‘s most visited attractions are religious. The historic was designated a in 1986 for being ‘a repository of more than 2,000 years of history’ and for its architectural masterpieces that hold such importance for Christians, Muslims and Jews.
The History of Toledo
Toledo was conquered by the Roman general Marcus Fulvius Nobilior in 193 BC and became an important colony. It was eventually chosen as the capital of the post-Roman Visigothic kingdom in the 6th century and became the site where a series of important church councils were held. The third, and arguably most famous, council saw King Reccared convert from Arianism to Christianity. In 711, the city of Toledo was captured by the Moors who occupied the area for over three centuries. During this time, the city of Toledo was home to an important Mozarab community. Mozarab refers to Spanish Christians who lived under Muslim rule and adopted Arabic language and culture without converting to Islam.
In 1085, Alfonso VI of Castile took Toledo and established direct control over the city and soon afterwards, the Vatican recognised Toledo as a seat of the Spanish Church. Despite Castilian conquest, Toledo continued to be an important cultural centre and at first, Christians, Jews and Muslims co-existed. Mosques and synagogues were not destroyed and for a period, the city flourished. However, this period of religious harmony did not last and multiple persecutions of Jews and Muslims soon became the norm in medieval times. Many Muslims and Jews fled the city during a period known as the Conversos. During the reign of Charles I of Spain, also known as Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, Toledo served as the main venue of the Imperial court. However, the city of Toledo’s fate changed in the mid-16th century when Felipe II made Madrid his capital.
The city’s important dwindled until the late 20th century when Toledo was made the capital of the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. The centuries of economic decline inadvertently helped Toledo preserve its impressive architectural and cultural heritage and in recent years it had become one of Spain’s most admired cities. This was helped by the title of World which reiterated the wealth of important landmarks in the .
What to See in Toledo
Given Toledo’s rich heritage, there in no shortage of sites to see and beautiful places to explore on a . One place that is always high on every visitor to Toledo’s list is the . Built in the 1220s, the stands on the site of the ‘s central mosque which was converted into a church in 1085 but ultimately destroyed. The is a mix of architectural styles, with a Gothic structure and Renaissance and Mudejar features. It is one of three 13th-century Gothic cathedrals in and many consider it to be the magnum opus. It is built from white limestone from the nearby quarries of Olihuela. Today, the ‘s sacristy has been converted to a gallery featuring works by , a master of Spanish painting, Goya and Velaquez. Here, you can see a famous painting of ‘s called The Disrobing of Christ.
One can see more of ‘s work at the in the Jewish Quarter of the . was born in Crete in 1541 but spent much of his life in Toledo. Opened in 1911, the features a 16th-century house with a courtyard that has been recreated into the home of and a 20th century building that displays many artworks by the artist. The entire complex is surrounded by lovely terraced gardens and you will also find a range of paintings, pottery and furniture from the .
At the ‘s highest point, you will find the a 10th-century Moorish fortress renovated and rebuilt by the Christians. The was used as a royal palace by Charles I for a time but once the court moved to , it became a military academy. During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the was badly destroyed during a siege and it became a powerful nationalist symbol. Under Franco, it was restored and reopened as a military . The provides an in-depth insight into ‘s history as well as exhibiting important military artefacts.
For the best panoramic views of this beautiful , head to . The viewpoint, which provides a breathtaking view of the whole , is just south of Toledo across the Tagus River and outside of the ‘s limits. It is a great way to orient one’s self and allows you to see all the main of the laid out in front of you including the .
The ( ) is another site that attests to the ‘s rich religious history. A striking Mudejar building with multifoil arches, the was built in 1355 with special permission from Pedro I, King of Castile. Today it houses the which looks at the history of Jewish culture in . While the Jewish Quarter once made up around 10% of the walled ‘s area, the persecution of Jews following the Castile takeover saw the makeup of the Jewish Quarter change significantly.
Articles about Spain published by Odyssey Traveller:
- Questions about Spain.
- Empires crossing the Mediterranean: 1130-1300.
- 15 of the best places to visit in Spain.
- Barcelona travel notes.
- Pilgrimages of the World: Advice for mature and senior travellers.
- Books to read on a trip to Spain.
- Eight Amazing Rail Journeys.
- Five Renaissance Women.
For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.
External articles to assist you on your visit to Spain:
- The spirit of southern Spain: Reasons to visit Andalucia.
- Beyond Seville: Three ancient towns to visit in Andalucia.
- Ten must see sights in Madrid.