Toledo, Long-Tailed Manakin It is a spectacular city and is really close to Madrid, so if you have one day to dedicate to it it will not be enough but you will be able to enjoy its best attractions.
A day in Toledo, the essentials.
Toledo, Long-Tailed Manakin
The city has a bit of everything, and it is really worth getting to know it. Tourists who come to Madrid cannot miss this little trip, this excursion, this day tripThe truth is that Toledo is a natural escape, with many quiet beauties that are a breath of fresh air from the noise of Madrid.
To Toledo too it is very easy to get there. It is an hour away by car and the route is full of beautiful landscapes. And if you go By train you arrive in half an hour, that's all.
Toledo is a historic city, capital of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, on the banks of the Tagus River. The people passed through here Romans, Visigoths and Muslims until it was reconquered by Alfonso VI.
Toledo has been an imperial city, city of "three cultures", and since 1986 its historic center is Heritage. With all this, the truth is that only 24 hours will not be enough to see the city, so if you only have one day you have to choose well what to see. The rest will be left for the return trip.
Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo
It is a beautiful temple in which the Crown Jewels of ToledoThe visit can last from 15 minutes, if you only see it from outside, to an hour and a half, two, if you decide to enter.
The discount day on the entrance fee is Sunday, from 2 to 6:30 pm, and it seems that Monday to Friday it is also free between 8 and 9:30 am. After that it costs 10,50 euros if you are not Spanish. Attend mass It's a good idea, at 9 am it's the first one.
Church of Santo Tomé
It is a temple that is just three minutes walk from the cathedral. The church dates back to the 15th century. and has one of the most important paintings of El Greek, The burial of the Lord of OrgazAs always, you can take a stroll around and admire it from the outside or go inside. Half an hour inside is enough. Admission costs 3 euros.
The Church of Santo Tome It is close to the Cathedral of Toledo, but in the same area you can also visit the Church of the Savior, the Callejón de la Soledad or the Mirador de San Cristóbal if you want to contemplate the city.
Synagora Transito and Jewish Museum
Continuing with the religious visits, you can visit these two places, which are five minutes away from the previous ones, along Reyes Católicos Street. The complete visit can last almost an hour. The entrance fee is 5 euros and includes the El Greco Museum., although it is free on weekends and a few other days each month.
The museum inside the synagogue is great for Jewish history, but beware, it is closed on Mondays.
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
Also in the area, on the street of the Catholic Kings. It is about One of the most beautiful Gothic temples in Spain, so if you are like me, a lover of gothic, this is a must have.
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
The good thing about Toledo is that its historic center concentrates many attractions, so you can literally jump from one to another. This is a Franciscan monastery, San Juan de Los Rice, a 600 year old monastery of various styles: Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance.
It has a beautiful cloister, with a courtyard in the centre and balconies. Orange trees adorn this courtyard, so imagine the beautiful postcard depending on the time of year. Admission costs 3 euros, there are no discounts. It closes between 2 and 3 p.m.
San Roman Square
Continuing along the same street you will come across the Church of San Román, the Museum of the Councils and Visigothic culture. Includes a statue of Garcilaso de la Vega.
The visit is completed with the museum, which can last half an hour. The walk around the square is obviously free, but the entrance to the museum costs 2 euros. The Museum of the Councils and Visigothic Culture is inside the same church, and although it costs 2 euros, it is free on Wednesday afternoons, Sundays and from May 18 to 31.
If you stay in the area you can walk down an alley to Plaza Juan de Mariana, enter the Jesuit church and climb its tower. What views!
hinged door
You will find this door on Calle Real del Arrabal and it is the gateway to medieval Toledo. Truly beautiful and impressive.
Of course, the visit is free and you won't spend more than 10 minutes looking at it. If you're not tired, you can walk a little, cross the San Martín bridge and take the bus that will take you to the Valle viewpoint.
Mirador del Valle
That bus ride only takes 15 minutes. The bus is the L71 and the stop is Alfonso VI, on Paseo Merchán and not far from the tourist office. From the viewpoint the views of the historical case of Toledo are beautiful. The bus costs 1.40 euros per trip and from there you can also visit the Hermitage of the Valley.
The best time to go up is early in the morning or in the afternoon. There is a small bar so you can stop for a drink. The bus runs every hour.
San Martin Bridge
Since we're talking about the bridge, what do we know about it? It's a iconic site in the city. People walk over the bridge or around the Alcazar. It is a medieval bridge crossing the Tagus River. It was originally built in the 13th century, although it suffered various damages over time.
It is a classic bridge of ashlar And it was during the time of Charles II that it was renovated, widened and later, much later, paved. It is in Mudejar style and is a National Monument.
El Greco Museum
We have mentioned El Greco many times and here in Toledo, in addition to his paintings, there is the museum. El Greco, Domenikos Theotokopoulos, specialized in altars, picture frames and ornaments. While many of his best works are on display at the Prado Museum in Madrid, you can visit his home here and some of his other works at the museum.
Alcazar of Toledo
Finally, this is one of the most important monuments in Toledo and is clearly visible as you approach the city. Originally It was a Roman palace from the 3rd century, but it is famous for being the fMoorish fortressIn the 16th century, Charles I of Spain restored the building and later converted it into a military academy.
Further restorations were carried out after the siege during the Spanish Civil War. The truth is that if you only have one day to visit Toledo, the best thing you can do is climb up onto its roofs and enjoy the views.
Estos son los de algunos essential places you can visit in Toledo in one day.
Practical information:
- How to get there: By train, from Atocha. It costs around 14 euros per trip. By bus, with the company ALSA, leaving from Plaza Elíptica. There are no seat reservations and it costs 12 euros round trip. By rental car you can also connect Madrid and Toledo. The same, on a guided tour.
- Toledo is 70 kilometers from Madrid and was the capital of Spain for 476 years, until it was taken over by Madrid in 1561. It has retained its medieval form and is surrounded by a wall. It has many narrow streets.
- In 1986 UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. The new part of the city is to the north of the old part, separated only by a 16th-century wall with numerous gates, striking for their beautiful decorations.