What to see and do in Toledo, Spain
Toledo, Spain another great day trip city and another UNESCO World Heritage Site! Spain is full of them!
Toledo is another city that can be seen in a day and is an easy day trip from Madrid. Before you had to take the bus from Madrid to Toledo but now there is a train that takes just 30 minutes!
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Toledo is known for its production of iron and swords so you could buy an exquisitely made sword, although how you would ever get it home through airport security and customs I have no idea. But there are signs assuring that you can.
If you are fan of marzipan, Toledo is the place for you as it is considered to have some of the finest marzipan. Personally I do not think, as a product, it is made for digestion, but I do enjoy seeing the marvelous creations that are made with marzipan and pastry shop windows in Toledo have entire cities, churches, and castles made in miniature with marzipan. You should see it during the holiday season!
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As for what to see in Toledo, Spain:
1 – Cross the Puente de Alcantara – You have to cross over the Tagus River and enter the city of Toledo through one of the old city gates – always fun to be able to do!
2 – The Museum of Santa Cruz – A pleasant museum with some beautiful artifacts and pottery and it also has a nice courtyard.
3 – Cathedral of Toledo – A Gothic cathedral of monumental proportions, the Cathedral of Toledo is stunning. There is a lot to see inside the Cathedral and I especially like the cloister built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. It takes a while to absorb all of the artwork and details in the Cathedral so allow time to see everything.
4 – Iglesia y Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes – This is one of my favorite locations in Toledo because of the courtyard in the monastery which has interesting gargoyles. The Monastery and Church of San Juan de los Reyes is a 15th century structure.
5 – Museo de El Greco – El Greco lived and worked in Toledo until his death and the museum is a recreation of his house and a museum of some of his most important paintings.
6 – Santa Maria la Blanca – This is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, built in 1180. Santa Maria la Blanca is really beautiful as the entire room has white columns and arches, tiled floors, and delicate detailed carving on the walls.
As always there is more to see but I think these are the main highlights of Toledo and at least the places I see on every visit. And as a side note, the winters are bitterly cold in Toledo so if you visit the city then be prepared for your hands and feet to be numb. Otherwise, enjoy Toledo and don’t forget to have café con churros.
** For photo prints of Toledo, Spain click here for The Monica Store.
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Helpful Info for traveling to Toledo, Spain:
1 – For train information visit Rail Europe for schedules and fares.
2 – For more information about the Cathedral of Toledo click here.
3 – For more information and history of Toledo, Spain click here.
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