Toledo
Central Spain
Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as well as its historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. This period of religious tolerance (known as 'La Convivencia") continued until 1492 when the Jewish were expelled from Spain, followed in 1502 by the expulsion of the Mudejars (Moors).
The old city is located on a mountaintop with a splendid view and surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River.
The history of Toledo dates back to Roman occupation and some Roman ruins still exist. Roman occupation was followed by Visigoth rule, Muslim rule and finally the reconquest of Toledo in 1085 by the Christians. Toledo was the capital of the Spanish empire until the middle of the 1500s when the royal court was moved to Madrid.
Check out the slide show, illustrating some of its famous sites: The Alcázar of Toledo, the 13th century baroque cathedral (Catedral de Toledo), the Zocodover - a central marketplace, and the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca.
Toledo was also the home to El Greco and the city is the subject of some of his most famous paintings, including the "Burial of the Count of Orgaz", exhibited in the Church of Santo Tomé.. Once again, the picture of this work of art was taken from the web since none were allowed of it.
The old city is located on a mountaintop with a splendid view and surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River.
The history of Toledo dates back to Roman occupation and some Roman ruins still exist. Roman occupation was followed by Visigoth rule, Muslim rule and finally the reconquest of Toledo in 1085 by the Christians. Toledo was the capital of the Spanish empire until the middle of the 1500s when the royal court was moved to Madrid.
Check out the slide show, illustrating some of its famous sites: The Alcázar of Toledo, the 13th century baroque cathedral (Catedral de Toledo), the Zocodover - a central marketplace, and the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca.
Toledo was also the home to El Greco and the city is the subject of some of his most famous paintings, including the "Burial of the Count of Orgaz", exhibited in the Church of Santo Tomé.. Once again, the picture of this work of art was taken from the web since none were allowed of it.