When you feel like going to a place sometimes it ends up disappointing. The expectations are so high that one thinks that what you finally see is not enough, or you expected it much more impressive. It is not the case of Toledo. We knew it was a wonderful city, but it still surprised us a lot: there are so many things to see and do in Toledo We freaked out!
We took the car, the backpack, to the Valerians, and we started whistling there. That we meet? Now we tell you ...
Toledo is one of the most historic cities in Spain. It was a royal residence in the most important moments of the empire! And with all that entails: a multitude of nobles building their palaces and castles, they could not be less priests with their ecclesiastical buildings, walls to defend this VIP population with its splendid doors, in addition to other more functional public buildings ...
From the first moment it captivates you. The views from below are spectacular, with an old town perfectly bounded by the walls rising on the slope of the Tagus River. And once inside it it is very easy to get lost, most streets are narrow and short, and many of them do not even have exit.
But we always say the same thing, the best way to truly know a site is to get lost in the streets. In Toledo this maxim is completely fulfilled. In addition, you always end up going to a busier street, or with handicraft shops for tourists, so there is nothing to worry about, hehe.
Ok, getting lost is fine ... but we're not so dumb to skip the hot spots in the city, right? Here are the essential things to see and do in Toledo:
The first thing we did was head for the Zocodover square, that with that name already captivates you. Objective? The tourism office! This place can be considered as the starting point of a visit to Toledo. Most of the urban buses stop here, and many shops are established around it.
With the map on duty we made the following route. We are heading towards one of the highest points of the city, the Alcazar. The building is impressive. Although its power is best contemplated from outside the city.
Then we visited (without entering, happy budget!) The Cathedral, wonderful!! In the same square are the town hall and the archbishop's palace.
From there to Roman baths ruins and the Hercules caves, where the best preserved Roman cistern of Toledo was found, among many other evidences of other cultures (Romans, Visigoths, Arabs ...)
After passing countless churches, mosques, convents, palaces ... we reach the neighborhood of the Jewry. It is not necessary to remember that Toledo was a melting pot of cultures (until the expulsion of all but one ...). Wealth lies in the mixture of different styles and the coexistence of so many and so diverse traditions.
He walks by Santo Tomé church, several synagogues are passed, and you reach the beautiful Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.
On the way back we had the possibility of entering the El Greco Museum and at Sefardi Museum. They are two of the many museums in the city. Although we preferred to stop to eat before, our legs needed energy to keep kicking!
Our idea was not to visit all of Toledo in one day, basically because it is impossible. So we get carried away by our feet and end up in one of the beautiful city gates.
Almost dead of the kick suddenly appeared some escalators ... our salvation! We let ourselves be transported to the car park (too bad the stairs did not reach its very door), and we headed towards the Hermitage of the Valley across the river, from where the views of the city are simply stunning. You have to go through the San Servando Castle maybe worth a visit and for the Alcantara Bridge.
We would have loved to stay one more day, especially to visit the city at night. If something has Toledo is an amount of mysteries and secrets comparable to its history. The roll that Rober likes come on ... If you have the possibility, sign up for a mystery tour like this!
Toletum, city where you kick a stone and a monument appears ... And indeed it is. Numerous are the cases of works or reforms in houses that have been found with Roman remains, cisterns, mosques, churches, bathrooms ... What we have discovered has fascinated us and what is still to be discovered I have the feeling that maybe I will do more.
And you, do you know more things to see and do in Toledo?
Useful information
:: How to get to Toledo from Madrid?
By car: just take the A-42 from Madrid. From other points, look at the GPS! To park it is best to do it outside the walls if you do not want to pay one of the several car parks downtown. It doesn't take long to get from the other side of the river walking (about 15 minutes). We leave it on the Paseo de la Rosa, where on the sides there are several places to park. If you pass the train station (here the parking is paid) and you arrive at the roundabout before the bridge you will find a nice and free parking. The stations are close to each other, and within walking distance of downtown.
By public transport: there are quite a few trains from Madrid to Toledo for € 12.90 and it takes just 30 minutes. There are also buses with Alsa that cost € 6 and take about 1 hour to arrive.
On tour: you can always sign up for a day trip from Madrid, with transportation, guide, food and tickets included. Here you have an interesting option.
:: Where to eat in Toledo?
There are tourist menus from € 10, which include the typical dish here: carcamusas. You will have no problem finding good places to eat.
:: Do you have little time but want to see as much as possible?
In Toledo there are quite a few tours that you can join. Here you can see a few.
:: Where to sleep in Toledo?
We leave you a banner with the updated offers of accommodation in Toledo:
