Toledo is an incredibly cultural city: it has seen many different cultures and dynasties pass through its walls, as well as wars, royalty and artists. The legacy it keeps is an essential part of Spanish culture, so visiting Toledo will surely be a unique experience. We have explored the streets of Toledo in search of the best sights and activities. Discover everything that awaits you in this city of Castilla-La Mancha below.
Places you should visit and interesting activities you can do in Toledo
Cathedral
The Cathedral of Toledo is one of the most important places that you must visit when you arrive in a beautiful city. It is a great monument built in a Gothic style with an obvious French influence, and there are those who say that it is the best and most impressive building of that style in the whole country. It was finished towards the end of the 15th century , more than 200 years after construction began. There are several Masses each day, so the Cathedral is open to visitors from 10 am to 6:30 pm during the week and from 2pm to 6pm on Sundays. Tickets cost 11 euros.
The quarterdeck
The Alcazar is located in the highest part of the city, so it is not only a great place to visit and learn about the history and culture of Toledo, but it is also worth seeing for its impressive panorama. This monument is a fortress that was built on the highest point of the city for military and strategic benefits. It was first used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, passing to some members of the Spanish royalty before being conquered by the Arabs, who had a great influence on this city. Today, it is a museum with various exhibits that focus on the evolution of military strategy and weapons.
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes is a Franciscan church that was built under the reign of Isabel de Castilla, one of the most powerful queens in Spain, with the intention of being used as the royal mausoleum. The building is an impressive example of the Elizabethan-Gothic style that prevailed in Spain during the reign of the monarch. It was also intended to serve as a memorial to a recent military victory, the Battle of the Bull. It is a long and narrow construction, with many chapels decorating its sides and the ceiling is particularly notable, as it was designed in the Mudejar style, with a clear Arab influence.
Church of San Idelfonso
This church is one of the masterpieces of the Toledo Baroque. The Jesuits obtained permission to settle in the imperial city in 1558, and they acquired this plot in 1569. Construction began in 1629 and the church took a century to build with more than 100,000 bricks. Its design is a powerful statement against the Reformation, with snow-white interior walls and a style that channels light to the high altar for the Eucharist and leaves the side chapels dark. The dome is one of the highest points in the city along with those of the Cathedral.
Viewpoint of the valley
If the views from the San Martín Bridge are not enough, tourists can also head to the splendid Mirador del Valle, a fantastic vantage point from which the entire city of Toledo can be seen . There are magnificent views of the river, the imposing Alcazar, the small winding streets and the Cathedral. The walk to reach the top is also a spectacle in itself , as it passes by numerous important buildings when walking towards the Mirador from the Ronda del Valle, such as the Cathedral, the Museum of Santa Cruz, the Church of San Román and the city walls.
Mosque of Cristo de la Luz
Right at the entrance of Puerta del Sol is the oldest building in the Old Town. This mosque was built in 999 during the Caliphate and, despite its time, it looks quite similar to the one it did then. This makes it one of the vital pieces of Spain’s Moorish heritage. Two centuries after its construction it became a church, and then a hermitage . On the facade of the building you can see an inscription in Kufic – an ancient Arabic script – that was rediscovered in the 19th century, showing who commissioned and built the building, and in what year. Once inside, look at the vault, one of the many similarities to the famous Cordoba Mosque, built 30 years earlier.
El Greco Museum
This museum is obviously dedicated to El Greco, one of the most important and influential Spanish artists of all time. The museum aims to introduce El Greco to the general public not only as a painter but also as a person , and explores the profound influence he had on shaping Toledo’s history in the 17th century. The museum complex was recently renovated, so it now has a fresh look that is perfect for displaying the works of art it houses. It is closed on Mondays and is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm during the summer season, from 9:30 am to 6 pm during the winter season, and from 10 am to 3 pm on Sundays.
What to do on your visit to Toledo?
Take a night route
One of the most special things you can do in Toledo is to explore it at night after having seen it all day. At night, the city takes on a completely different air: the lights come on and mark the main buildings, creating beautiful shadows, the hustle and bustle fade away, and the unbearable heat during summer days cools slightly, creating the atmosphere. perfect for a walk around town. There are several guided tours that you can do at dusk, after visiting the interior of Toledo’s buildings and enjoying its museums.
Visit the Jewish quarter
The Judería district is what used to be the city’s Jewish quarter, and today it is one of the most beautiful parts of the city, with some very well-preserved buildings. In a translation to ‘the city of the Jews’, a tour of the Jewish Quarter will allow visitors to learn what life was like under the Muslim and Christian rule of the Jews, as well as to explore its culture and architecture.
Cross the San Martín Bridge
This medieval bridge built over the Tagus River is one of the symbols of Toledo. From this bridge there is an excellent panorama of the old town, making it a very romantic place to stroll at night. There is a small statue of a woman in the middle arch of the bridge, it was the wife of the architect in charge of the construction of the bridge. When her husband realized days before the inauguration that he had incorrectly calculated the weight and length of the bridge and that it would collapse when removing the scaffolding, she burned it at night during a horrible storm, causing the villagers to believe that it had been destroyed by lightning.
Stroll through the Plaza de Zocodover
The Plaza de Zocodover, the nerve center of the city for many centuries, full of cafes and bustles , continues to be a meeting place for the people of Toledo. In Moorish times, this was a large horse market, where mules, ponies, mares, and stallions were traded. Later, it was the location of a market that took place every Tuesday until the middle of the 20th century when it was moved to Paseo Merchán. The Plaza de Zocodover is the place where the Auto de Fé was held – a public ceremony created by the Inquisition in which those convicted by the court denied their sins and showed their repentance. Today you will be happy to know that public events are much more fun , with dances, concerts and costume contests that are held in this square during the Toledo festivities.
Eat in a restaurant
Toledo’s cuisine is a delicious mix of different cultures; The city has been inhabited by Jews, Christians and Arabs , who coincided in the area at some point or another in the history of the city. That is why it is called the city of the three cultures , something that is clearly reflected in its cuisine, which today has retained a lot of Arab influence. In addition to some excellent ethnic restaurants, Toledo also offers typical Spanish food, such as the succulent suckling pig, which is the specialty of the city.
