Toledo - outside the gates to the Old Town



Rio Tagus, the railway station and views of the Old Town from afar could be found on my walk from the train to the Old Town.



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The Railway Station. Arriving from Madrid. The train takes about 30 minutes.


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The station is very beautiful in Moorish style.

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It was 22 degrees when I arrived in Toledo. I had to walk to the Old Town.

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Juanelo, the road next to the river and the Old Town.

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Alcazar, the landmark castle. More about it in the Old Town section.

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A more modern bridge in the North part of the city. Hospital de Tavera, that is dominating the picture, was completed in 1603. It influenced El Escorial.

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The gate to Puente de Alcántara, the Roman bridge that leads to Old Town.

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A Cuban restaurant in a rock!

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Rio Tagus flowing next to the Old Town. A very beautiful view...

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A closer look of River Tagus and the bridge Puente Nuevo de Alcántara.

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The North part from afar.

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Puente de Alcántara was built by the Romans. It was almost the only gate for the pilgrims in the middle age.


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The red soil of surrounding hills.

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Towards Academia de Infanteria.

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The gate that leads up to the stairs to the Old Town. It is a bit tough to walk up, especially if it is sunny!

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Plaza de la Concepcion.

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Santa Cruz church with Museo de Toledo.


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Puerta de la Sangre. The gate to Plaza de Zocodover , the beginning of the old town.




OLD TOWN TOLEDO:



The Old Town is the city center of Toledo and is situated on a hill above Tajo River. It is were you find all the historical places, buildings and monument like the Cathedral, Alcazar, museums, synagogues and moorish palaces. The streets are very narrow and hilly, but sometimes the relaxed atmosphere get interrupt by a car driving so fast that the pedestrians have to hide in the buildings. The Old Town is crowded with people, especially Zocodover Square, the commercial heart of Toledo.



Plaza de Zocodover:




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Plaza de Zocodover. The heart of the old town, situated just inside the gate. It is more modern looking then most other places in the old town.

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Puerta de la Sangre, the gate to the Old Town from Zocodover.

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The ATM at the Caja Rural bank was the one that ate up my bank card.

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Alcazar. Toledo has blue buses, just like Madrid.

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Alcázar of Toledo. One of 2 famous landmarks in Toledo. This fortress from the 16th century is located in the highest part of the town. Alcázar was used by the Romans as a palace in the 3rd century, was restored by 2 kings and renovated in 1535. Today it houses the Museum of the Army (Museo de Ejército) and the Castilla-La Mancha


Regional Library.

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Alcázar plays an important part in Spanish history; During the civil war, Coronel José Moscardó Ituarte held the building against overwhelming Spanish Republican forces in the Siege of the Alcázar. It is today an important symbol of Spanish nationalism and the newspaper El Alcázar is named after it.

Views from Alcázar:

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Restaurant Sancho IV.

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Castillo de San Servando. A medieval castle text to Tagus River. It begun as a monastery in 1088 and was later converted into a fortress that would prevent a muslim attack.

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Academia de Infanteria. The Infantry Academy (ACINF) is a military training center for the Spanish Army.


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Towards the cathedral.

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Toledo is famous for its swords, that can be find in special stores all over the old town. You can buy them, but you can't bring them on the plane!



Around the Cathedral:

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Calle Arco del Palacio, a narrow street towards the Cathedral.

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The Gothic Cathedral.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento and The Gothic Cathedral:



Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the square in front of the Gothic Cathedrala, Palacio Arzobispal, Juzgado and Ayuntamiento, the Town Hall.




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The Cathedral of St Mary of Toledo. This Roman Catholic church is the most important building in Toledo. It is the seat of the once mighty archdiaconese of Toledo and was built between 1226 and 1493. It is considered to be the pinnacle of 3 High Gothic cathedrals in Spain. It is 45 m high and has an expensive monstrance inside.



It is said to be one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals of the world, but I didn't get inside. I didn't think it was worth to pay an entrance fee, since it wasn't allowed to take photos, and I didn't have enough time.

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The Gothic Cathedral is 120m long. Before the cathedral was built, a mosque was on the place.

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Ayuntamiento, the renaissance Town Hall of Toledo. To the right is Palacio Arzobispal.

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Juzgado.


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Palacio Arzobispal, Archbishop's Palace. This renaissance building is here seen from Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

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Another sword shop.

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Iglesia Santo Tomé is in the back. This church was built in the 14th century in Mudejar style and houses the famous painting "Burial of Count Orgaz" by El Greco.


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In Toledo's Old Town you see historical churches everywhere.



Plaza Taller de Moro:



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Museo Taller de Moro, a Moorish museum.

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From Plaza de Moro you have views of the beautiful, hilly and wealthy south part of Toledo.

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Iglesia de Santo Tomé (right).

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A lot of tourist shops can be found in Toledo, where you can find these kind of armours.

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Toledo is more sunny and green then Madrid, since it lies on a hill exposed to sun.
Sinagogue El Tránsito:



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Sinagoga del Transito was built in 1336. Before it was converted into a museum it has been a church and a hospital. Only 3 synagogues are left in Spain. 2 of them are in Toledo (and one in Cordoba).

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Museo Sefardi is a museum of jewish history inside the historic synagogue El Transito.

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Anyone knows what this building is called?

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It looks special, but I couldn’t find any info about it…

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Plaza Amarillos del Tránsito.

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House of El Greco:




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House of El Greco, the famous painter.



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Museo El Greco. El Greco was a famous painter that lived in Toledo. This is a recreation of his home, that were lost many years ago.

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There are endless numbers of beautiful, narrow medieval lanes.
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Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes. The church in 1504, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist and is an example of Gothic-Spanish-Flemish style, San Juan de los Reyes was restored after the damage caused during Napoleon's invasion.



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Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes. It was hard to take photo of it from afar.

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Escuela de artes aplicadas y oficios artísticos, a fine arts school built in 1882.

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The arts school and the Monasterio church.

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Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes.

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What is the building above called? Anyone knows?


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The Jewish Quarters (Barrío de la Juderia):



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Barrio de la Juderia is a very small area with narrow lanes.

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The Jewish Quarters has some of the most narrow lanes in Toledo.

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Plaza de Baldecalero.

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Iglesia de San Ildefonso, more known as Jesuits Church. There are great views from the top, but I didn't have to get up, since I had just one hour left until the train should leave for Madrid. It was completed in 1718 and was built in Baroque style.



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The Jesuits Church with its twin spires is the 2nd most magnificent church after the gothic cathedral.



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The interior of the Jesuits Church.



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Plaza de San Vicente:



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Museo Visigótico (right). The Visagoths ruled Toledo in the 4th century.


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Yet another church. Anyone know the name?

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Plaza de San Vicente.

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Toledo in Ohio, USA is named after Toledo, Spain and this street is named after Toledo, Ohio.


Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha:



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Plaza de San Vicente:




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