Taking a day trip to Toledo is very convenient, as it's an hour drive from Madrid. Toledo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1986 due to its monuments and cultural heritage, encompassing Christian, Jewish and Muslim influences. It is also referred to as an Imperial City as it was once the court of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire.
Upon arrival, we noticed an outdoor escalator in the distance from where we were dropped off. So, up the escalator we went, with our local guide, Yolanda, leading the way! Once at the top, I noticed how ancient this town looked with it's narrow cobblestone streets (watch out carefully for cars). So much history! We were in the old town, which is fortified and on a hill overlooking the rest of Toledo.
Our first stop was coffee and the use of a washroom at a local café. The cappuccino I ordered was so pretty with its layers of coffee and cream. Next was a walk to a church, Iglesia de Santo Tomé, that housed artist El Greco's "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" (1586). El Greco was a Greek artist of the Spanish Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries. Knowing this and seeing a painting that is over 400 years old always fascinates me. "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" is a gorgeous painting, filled with small details. You could study this painting for hours and keep discovering new details. I wish photos were allowed but they were not, but if you are curious to know what this beautiful masterpiece looks like, there are plenty of photos online or look at the photo I took of the picture the church had hanging up outside the room the painting is housed in).
Our walking tour took us to the synagogue, Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, in the Jewish quarter next. I had never been inside a synagogue before, so I found it quite interesting, but was perplexed by the name of it, which translates to "Synagogue of Saint Mary the White," which, to me, sounds like a combination of Catholic and Jewish. I later found out the original name was Ibn Shushan Synagogue and that in 1391 it went from being used as a synagogue to a Catholic Church, which explains how it is named today. Inside, horseshoe arches over columns were prominent throughout the space and the capitals the arches rested upon were beautifully detailed with pinecones and other vegetation. I am not sure what the columns were constructed with but it looked almost like plaster because they were so white. The tiling on the floor was beautiful as well and I left quite impressed by this stunning house of worship.
Our tour ended after a walk down the hill on the other side of Toledo's old town, across a bridge over the Tagus River. After crossing the bridge, you can look behind at an incredible panoramic view of the hilly town with the river running along the base. It's breathtaking!
A day trip to Toledo is a must, especially if you are traveling between Madrid and Granada, which is what we did. Toledo is truly a memorable place with a rich history. Here are a few more photos from the day trip below.
