Toledo, Spain — Where to Go
Toledo Sightseeing Overview
Until 1560 when the baton passed to Madrid, Toledo was capital of not only Spain but of a burgeoning empire. Prior to then it had been an important provincial center of the Roman and the Moors, while the Jewish community had also left an indelible mark.
Post 1560, however, its importance declined rapidly and Toledo slid into the political backwaters. A favorable consequence of this was that much of the fabric of the old town remained untouched by ‘progress' and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site with very tangible reminders of its multi-faceted past.
Toledo's historic center resembles a large sandcastle on an island, neatly enclosed on three sides by the river. The main entrance gate, on the northern ‘land side' of the city, is the Puerta de Bisagra. Alongside this is the landmark Puerta de Alfonso VI, beside which escalators cut into the rock to make the steep ascent more bearable.
Navigation within Toledo isn't easy. There are no obvious major arteries and the main square, Plaza de Zocodover, is tucked away in the northeast corner of the city.
Once you have found this, however, the Calle del Comercio runs off here, east-west (leading into Hombre del Palo/La Trinidad/Santo Tomé/Angel/Reyes) past the cathedral, the Iglesia Santo Tomé and to the sights of the Jewish Quarter. South of the cathedral is sight-free zone. North of here is the Iglesia San Roman/Museu de Los Concilios Visigodos.
Toledo Tourist Information
Patronato Municipal de Turismo de Toledo
Cathedral at Plaza del Consistorio, 1
Tel: 925 254 030.
Website: www.toledo-turismo.com
Toledo Sightseeing
There are currently no passes for sightseeing in Toledo.
Toledo Sightseeing
There are currently no passes for sightseeing in Toledo.
Key Attractions in Toledo, Spain
Catedral de Toledo
The cathedral of Toledo is one of Spain's largest and finest cathedrals; don't miss the Sacristy art collection, the polychrome high altar screen, the magnificently carved choir stalls or the bizarre Transparente, where a hole has been cut into the main chapel for extra light.
Calle Cardenal Cisneros
Tel: 925 222 241.
Website: www.architoledo.org/catedral/Default.htm
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1400 and 1550-1900 (Apr-Sep); daily 1000-1400 and 1530-1800 (Oct-Mar).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca (Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca)
The oldest and biggest of Toledo's surviving synagogues, this building dates from the 12th century and is a masterpiece of finely carved wall panels and classic white Mudéjar horseshoe arches.
Calle de los Reyes Católicos 4
Tel: 925 227 257.
Disabled access: Y.
Sinagoga del Transito/Museo Sefardi (Synagogue del Transito/Sephardic Museum)
Built in 1466 the side rooms of this synagogue now house a museum of the Jews in Spain, though the main hall with its magnificent friezes and ceiling is what lingers longest in the mind.
Calle Samuel Levi
Tel: 925 223 665.
Website: www.museosefardi.net
Disabled access: Y.
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes (Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes)
Aside from the cathedral, this is the finest church in the city, intended as the last resting place of the Catholic monarchs and featuring a beautiful cloister.
Calle San Juan de los Reyes 2
Tel: 925 223 802.
Website: www.sanjuandelosreyes.org
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1830 (summer); daily 1000-1730 (winter).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Iglesia de Santo Tomé (St Tomé Church)
The architectural highlight of this 12th-century church is its fine Mudéjar tower, but the crowds flock here to see El Greco's masterpiece El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz (The Burial of the Count of Orgaz).
Plaza del Conde
Tel: 925 256 098.
Website: www.santotome.org
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1845 (Mar-mid-Oct); daily 1000-1745 (mid-Oct-Feb).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Further Distractions
Centro de Interpretación del Toledo Histórico (CITO)
Housed in the former church of San Marcos, this is a spectacular state-of-the-art multi-media interpretation of Toledo's history with some fascinating exhibits (don't miss the Heath Robinson-like water system tower model).
Calle Trinidad 7
Tel: 925 221 616.
Website: www.clavesdetoledo.com
Iglesia San Román /Museu de Los Concilios Visigodos (San Román Church/Museum of the Visigothic Councils)
This wonderful 13th-century church, part Moorish, part Christian, and boasting original frescoes is home to a museum of Visigoth relics (concilios were the councils of the Western Visigothic Church held in Toledo in the 7th century).
Calle de San Román
Tel: 925 227 872.
