Optional Excursion

Saturday April, 6th, after lunch. You can register on the reception desk.

TOLEDO (Fee: 20 €).

 

Inhabitants: 59.600 Altitude: 529 m above sea level Distances: Madrid: 71 km Ciudad Real: 115 km Guadalajara: 129 km Avila: 137 km Cuenca: 187 km Salamanca: 234 km

Toledo and its Alcázar

 Like a Travel through History

Toledo is one of the most important centers of european medieval history. The first one to report about it was Roman author Titus Livius, who describes it as a "small fortificated town", and fortification has always been an important parameter in its history, still evident to today's tourist for the monumental walls around, and the "Swords of Toledo" gave to its steel-production world-wide fame. It was capital of Spain from the Gothic epoch until 1560, fact that explains its really impressive medieval architecture. Walking through its streets one feels like having stepped back into the Middle-Ages, but in the best sense of it, and perhaps you will search your pockets for a few gold-ducats to buy some of Toledo's fine artisany or just to enjoy of its highly recommandable cuisine.

Sightseeing

Toledo, having been declared National Monument by the Spanish state, seems to be one large museum. Hardly another town is so well conserved in its historical style.
The best way to explore Toledo certainly is to have a long walk through it and look at the buildings of various epochs:

The Epoch of Romans

Titus Livius described the Roman "Toletum" as a small fortificated settlement. But already then it had great strategical importance. The Amphitheater and an aqueductus are conserved of that time.

The Epoch of Goths

When the Goths conquered Spain in 6^th century, they made Toledo capital of their empire. A remind of this epoch is the Fortress of San Servando.

The Epoch of Moors

Tolaitola, as the Moors called Toledo, was one of the most important northern-spanish towns. There are two Mosques and three town-gates left.
The Mosque Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz, of 10^th century, is extraordinarily well-conserved. Its construction, with nine cupolas raising over four Gothic colums, certainly shows influences of the great Mosque of Cordoba.
The town-gate Vieja Puerta de la Bisagra, built during 12^th and 13^th century, is the most impressive rest of the Moorish fortifications
Spaniards had religious freedom during the Moorish occupation, so also Christians (Mozarabes) built their churches: San Sebastián and Santa Eulalia were made during that time, though both were modified lateron.

The Epoch of the Reconquest

After conquering Toledo in 1085, Alfons VI made the town capital of his empire. As a consequence the importance of the town was growing rapidly and arrivede to its climax in late 15^th and early 16^th century. The Escuela de Traductores de Toledo (School of Translators of Toledo) cultivated as well classical as oriental knowledge and exported it from here to the occidental world.
During the Moorish dominance the Christians had developed an architectonic style of their own, though clearly influenced by Arabian aesthetics. In this so-called Mudejar-style they built now several churches that are well worth a visit: Santiago del Arrabal, Cristo de la Vega, San Vicente, San Miguel, San Román and Santo Tomé. (In the latter is exposed one of El Greco's most famous paintings, "The Funeral of Count Orgaz".)
The two synagogues conserved in Toledo, Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca and Sinagoga de El Tránsito, are in Mudejar style as well. The latter, built by Samuel Ha Leví, became a temple of Christian Alcantara Order after the banishing of Jews in late 15^th century. The Cathedral built between 1226 and 1492, with massive lines and decorations in Mudejar style is certainly the most interesting gothic building in town. You may visit its fantastic collection of paintings, including works of El Greco, Goya and Van Dyck in its vestry, and the treasury with the famous 16^th century monstrance of Juan de Arfe, which is part and parcel of the Corpus Christi procession.
The mighty Bridge of San Martin over Tajo river, with a tower at each end, is of gothic style as well.
The church Iglesia de San Juan de los Reyes and its Monastery were built in 15^th century for the Spanish kings to be buried there. The claustrum is of extraordinary beauty.

                                                     

                                                                     Cathedral of Toledo

                                                            

 

After 15^th Century

In 1560, under the government of King Philip II, Madrid replaced Toledo as capital of Spain. The town anyhow remained important, specially for the Catholic Church which held there no fewer than 18 counciles.
The old Hospital of Santa Cruz, founded in late 16^th century by Cardenal Mendoza, serves today as Museum of Arts and Archaeology. Outstanding from the architectonical point of view are the staircase of Covarrubias, the Plateresque facade and the courtyard.
Important Renaissance buildings are the churches Santo Domingo el Antiguo and San José, and the town-gate Puerta Nueva de la Bisagra.
Of Baroque epoch are the church San Juan de los Jesuitas and, of course, the works of Toledo's most famous painter, El Greco: many of them are exposed in the house where he was living, Casa y Museo del Greco.
Finally, behind the Arco de la Sangre, an arch well known to all who read Cervantes' Don Quijote, we find the town's landmark, the Alcazar.

 
Page Updated on 06-03-2002

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