Toledo, an open-air museum
The historic city of Toledo stands on a promontory overlooking the River Tagus. Its old town, with over a hundred monuments representing nearly all the artistic styles, is a unique "urban museum" with UNESCO World Heritage status.
Toledo is a unique city. Over 2,000 years old, it is a symbol of the meeting of cultures. Its old town in particular is a faithful reflection of this spirit: churches and buildings with the most varied architectural styles –Arabic, Mudéjar, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance... – stand side by side, forming a stunning array of monuments. This city in Castile-La Mancha is located in the centre of Spain, some 70 kilometres outside Madrid and just 30 minutes by high-speed train.
A labyrinth of art
You'll soon realise that "getting lost" in the streets of Toledo is a genuine stroke of luck. Take your time to stroll around at a leisurely pace and discover one of the richest monumental heritages in Europe. Synagogues, mosques, palaces, convents… You'll find a long list of places of interest, with over a hundred monuments.
You can reach the historic centre via one of the numerous gates in the city walls, such as the Puerta del Sol, the Alcántara Gate or the Bisagra Gate. During your visit to the old town, be sure not to miss the Cathedral, an extraordinary work of architecture that merits an unhurried visit: its outstanding features include the Mudéjar ornamentation, the choir stalls, the wrought-ironwork, the sacristy –a genuine museum of painting with works by artists such as El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Goya– and the Treasure Room where the magnificent gold and silver monstrance used in the Corpus Christi procession is displayed.
A thousand and one routes
In addition to the Cathedral, Toledo offers many other places of interest. Did you know that the nine vaults in the Cristo de la Luz Mosque originally came from the Great Mosque of Cordoba? And then there are the synagogues of Santa María la Blanca and El Tránsito, the latter housing the Sephardic Museum. Visit the Alcázar fortress for spectacular views from the highest point in the city
Other interesting sites are the church of Santiago del Arrabal, a superb example of Mudéjar art; the Fuensalida Palace, which dates from the early 15th century; the Tavera Hospital, a large Renaissance building with paintings by Titian, El Greco and Ribera; and the church of Santo Tomé, home to another of El Greco's masterpieces: "The Burial of Count Orgaz".
However, all these are merely a few examples of the numerous monuments in Toledo.
The Historic Toledo Visitor Centre located in the church of San Marcos will provide you with all the information on the city and its history, so you can plan your own route in an enjoyable and entertaining way, through a range of audiovisual resources and interactive activities.