Spain - Toledo

I was fourteen the first time I visited Toledo. My school in Vitoria (Northern Spain) organised a cultural trip to Madrid and a visit to Toledo was included. I remember I didn't enjoy the city that much: too much culture concentrated in the same place for a boy looking just for fun. We wandered around the city and we left early because most of my classmates were bored as well.

Fifteen years later I felt that I was missing something from that visit to Toledo and decided to go back. I managed to catch a cheap flight to Madrid and stayed in a "pensión". I have a special relationship with Madrid and before my visit back to the old capital of Visigothic Spain, I decided to stay for a couple of days in the capital of the Modern Spain, enjoying its weather, food and friendly people. Connections between Madrid and Toledo are plenty and regular, either by train or by bus, and the trip doesn't take more than an hour.

Toledo remains almost exactly as it used to six centuries ago. From the old town you can still see the council flats of new Toledo in the distance, but they're as far away as they could build them from this wonderful gem of the ""Old Castille". You could easily admire everything in one day but if you want to take in all that the city offers then you had better stay overnight. Accommodation is quite pricey though.
Going up and down the narrow alleys you will be able to discover the three main influences and styles of the city: Christian, Jewish and Muslim. Mesquites, cathedrals and synagogues live now in perfect harmony one next to the other. On the top of the hill, the Alcazar de Toledo dominates the horizon. El Greco's fans will be able to admire probably the most impressive of his works, Entierro del Conde de Orgaz, in the Casa-Museo de El Greco.

I recommend using the Telstar street map of Toledo and TimeOut Guide to Madrid.

Author: Julio Gil
Date: 1 May 2002