Toledo

Toledo is known for being a melting pot of cultures, and that is evident in everything from the cuisine to the architecture. A guided day trip to Toledo will start right in the incredible Old Quarter, where you’ll be able to admire Arabic, Gothic and Renaissance architecture right next to each other. A short walk from the Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Europe, you can see Mezquita Cristo de la Luz, a church that was constructed as a mosque more than one thousand years ago. In the Church of Santo Tome, you’ll discover “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz”, one of El Greco’s most influential artworks.

The Cathedral of Toledo will undoubtedly be the focal point to which your eye is drawn, thanks to towering position on a hill overlooking the city. Once inside, you can admire works by the likes of Goya, Rubens and El Greco. Built in the 13th century, the cathedral is also home to the portraits of all the cardinals from the church dating back for more than 500 years.

Christians, Muslims and Jews. Followers of the three religions lived side by side for centuries and left their mark in Toledo. It is one of Spain’s most interesting and intriguing cities, where you can see a Gothic cathedral, a 10th century mosque and two synagogues in the space of just a few metres.

It was once an Imperial City, and its beauty was depicted in the paintings of El Greco. Visitors to the city should be sure to see its views, visit the Alcázar, walk around its winding streets, or see a sunset from the Alcántara or San Martín bridges. Less than 80 kilometres from Madrid, it’s worth spending more than a day to see the city lit up at night and explore it in more depth.

One of the largest heritage sites in Europe

Go through the city walls—the Bisagra, Cambrón and Sol gates are still in use—and into the maze of streets of Toledo’s old town centre, a World Heritage site. You could begin the tour at the mosque Cristo de la Luz. At over a thousand years old, it is Toledo’s oldest monument and one of the most important examples of Spain’s Hispano-Islamic and Mudéjar architecture.The next stop is in the cobbled streets of the old Jewish quarter, a charming area which boasts two important sites: the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca - the oldest in the city - and the synagogue of El Tránsito, now the Sephardic Museum. This area also includes a museum of one of Toledo’s most famous and beloved residents, the Mannerist painter of elongated figures known as El Greco. However, his most famous work, the Burial of Conde Orgaz, is in the nearby church of Santo Tomé.The Christian legacy includes the 13th century Cathedral and its stained glass, one of the city’s star attractions, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes - built to honour the Catholic Monarchs - and the imposing Alcázar which dominates the city.

- What to visit
- Toledo Army Museum
- El Greco Museum
- Alcázar fortress in Toledo
- Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
- Santiago del Arrabal Church
- Church of Santo Tomé
- Cristo de la Luz mosque
- Sephardic Museum
- Santa María La Blanca synagogue
- El Tránsito synagogue