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Toledo in La Mancha (near Madrid)

July 11, 2012 by Rosemary

Toledo and The Land of Don Quijote

Toledo is a glorious treasure of a city, with one of the world’s most beautifully preserved medieval quarters on the spot that used to be Europe’s most cultured and sophisticated city, where Christians, Jews and Moors were contributing equally to its wealth and fame.

This post is one in a series about Espana provided by Lesbianas Viajeras, a Spain based company specialising in travel in Spain and beyond especially for lesbians.

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The city of Toledo has its origins in Toletum

Don Quijote's Windmills, in Castile-La Mancha

The name the Romans gave to this settlement on the banks of the River Tagus after its conquest in 190 BC. The city maintained its importance for centuries and, in the Visigothic era, became the capital of Hispania (6th C.). The arrival of the Arabs in the 8th century, together with the presence of Christians and Jews, made Toledo the “city of the three cultures”. This was one of the Toledo’s most splendid periods when, among other important events, the Toledo School of Translators was founded. Later, when Carlos V came to the throne in 1519, the city became an imperial capital.

A View Of The City of Toledo
A View Of The City of Toledo

Corpus Christi Celebrated

Synagogues, mosques and churches jostle in the narrow streets of Toledo, which is characterised by the mixture of artistic styles. The most important date in Toledo’s calendar is Corpus Christi, which is celebrated nine weeks after Easter. This festival, which has centuries of tradition and has been declared of International Tourist Interest, has its culminating moment in a large and colourful procession going round the historic centre of the capital of La Mancha.

The Cathedral

One of the most outstanding buildings in the city is the Cathedral, considered one of the high points of Gothic art. The construction of this monumental building, with a basilica floor plan and five naves, because in 1226, although it was not finished until the 15th century. This is reflected in the great superimposition of styles in the building and the large number of renowned artists who left their mark on the church: from Pedro Berruguete, to Enrique Egás, Petrus Petri and Juan Guas. On its main facade the outstanding feature is the doorway, made up of three doors: Infierno (Hell), Perdón (Forgiveness) and Juicio (Judgement). The exterior is topped by the two cathedral towers, one of them in flamboyant Gothic style and the other in Gothic-Renaissance.

El Greco

If there is one person’s name that defines Toledo it is that of El Greco (16th-17th C)

His House-Museum, a palace with the atmosphere of the period, exhibits some of the best works of the painter who made the city world famous.


Filed Under: Destinations, Spain and Portugal Tagged With: Spain

Comments

  1. Skate808 says

    July 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    If you’re looking to visit Toledo on a budget you should definitely check out Be Your Guide Toledo, a mobile device application that was developed specifically for the city of Toledo! It’s free to download in the app store and is the only one of its kind on the market. Being from the city of Toledo themselves, Nexora Solutions felt that this would be a great opportunity to share the wealth our city has to offer the world. It works offline too, so even if you’re traveling and don’t have an international plan you can use all of the features. It also provides user reviews of local pubs and restaurants to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

    Check out the full features here: http://www.beyourguidetoledo.es/

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