There are many special and charming places in Toledo, but the Baño de la Cava is especially impressive due to its location on the banks of the Tagus, the river at the heart of the city’s growth and development. The site is also renowned due to the legend that supposedly took place here. On arriving at the site you will find a tower near the San Martín Bridge which seems to...
Continue reading...Toledan History and Legends
A Small but Magical Building
Toledo is full of wonderful places, but there is one site that is especially charming, taking you back to a time when cultures mixed and created the magical atmosphere that envelops the city to this day. We are of course referring to the Bab-al-Mardum (or Cristo de la Luz) Mosque. It is the only well-maintained mosque from the period of Arab rule in the city. Built in 999AD, the building dates...
Continue reading...A Roman Past
The footprint of the Romans in Toledo can be seen throughout our city, but there is one site in particular that is worth getting to know. At Puerta del Sol you’ll find remains of part of the Roman sewer system. The Romans are renowned for their grandest structures such as the coliseums, circuses and bathhouses, but their engineering expertise also extended to public amenities such as harbours, roads, lighthouses and, in...
Continue reading...A Small Corner of Toledo That You’ll Fall in Love With: la Virgen de Alfileritos
Toledo is full of local legends with the majority of them featuring love as the protagonist and this is the case in Calle de Alfileritos. It’s a long and narrow street where you can take in old stately homes and palaces adorned with coats of arms. Nowadays you can also find bars and restaurants where you can taste Toledan cuisine. If you follow the street from where it begins in Plaza...
Continue reading...The Walled City of Toledo
Toledo’s walls have had many iterations but have been around since Roman times. In 674 A.D a Visigoth king Wamba rebuilt them once more but the ones we are left with today are largely from the period of Arab rule (although some remains of the Roman walls are still around). After reconquering the city from the Moors in 1085, Alfonso VI finished off the walls to sure up the city’s defences....
Continue reading...A Brief History of Toledo
Let’s take a trip through the history of Toledo. The city is an ideal fortress. Perched on a mountain top and boxed in on all but its northern side by the River Tagus, the natural defenses are formidable and further bolstered by the city’s walls protecting its Achilles’ heel (for more information see our previous post). The area has been occupied since the Paleolithic Era and has a rich and diverse...
Continue reading...Toledo and the River Tagus
We can’t talk about Toledo without mentioning the Tagus due to its importance in the city’s origin, shape and development. The Tagus is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, splitting it on its east-west axis with a slight tilt towards the south-east. Its source is in the Montes Universales in the Sierra de Albarracín. From there it travels 626 miles (1008 kilometres) before reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Lisbon. On...
Continue reading...In Search of Toledo’s Origins
High above the River Tagus you’ll find El Cerro del Bu Archaeological Site – a strategic and natural defense point occupied for millennia. The earliest remains are flint carvings with a dubious chronology. The Bronze Age is best documented with the discovery of shacks and evidence of sheep and cattle husbandry and an accompanying rural economy. The hill was also occupied during the Medieval Era during the period of Arab rule,...
Continue reading...Shrine to the Virgin of the Valley
If you find yourself in Toledo, don’t miss the chance to see this chapel. Whether or not you’re a religious person, the site has breathtaking views of the city and the Tagus. Once you’ve taken it all in head into the chapel itself. The charming building dates back to 1575 but by the end of the 18th century found itself in ruins. In 1859 it was restored to its former glory....
Continue reading...A Fairytale Palace
One of our favourite spots in Toledo is the Princesa Galiana Palace. Also known as the King’s Orchard, the site straddles the Tagus near the city’s train station. It’s one of those hidden treasures that is so magical you’ll struggle not to come back. The tranquil spot is perfect to visit with kids. It was made in the Mudjéjar Style (unique to the Iberian peninsula of the 12th to the 16th...
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