Toledo is a sunny little city located about 45 miles away from Madrid. It’s most known for its huge concentration of monuments and historical sites clumped together inside (as well as for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site!). Are you planning a trip to Madrid and checking out its surroundings? Or perhaps you’re set on Toledo already and looking to fill out your list? We’ve picked out 11 of the places that we strongly believe every tourist should visit. Here’s our guide to the best places to see in Toledo.
Toledo
How to get to Toledo?
Toledo has been regarded by many to be the most beautiful and interesting city in Spain – in our opinion, it rivals even the nearby Segovia. You can get to Toledo in 33 minutes from Madrid by train or in about 70 minutes by car or bus. The city centre is the part that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its unique architecture. Toledo is also known as the ‘Imperial City’ due to the court of Charles V being once stationed here.
The Alcázar of Toledo
Toledo’s most beautiful castle
What is Toledo’s best attraction? A strong contender is certainly the Alcázar, the massive fortress towering over the city and the highest point in Toledo. The history of the building dates back to the Roman Empire, although it was not until the Arabs, who ruled Toledo during the Middle Ages, that the Alcázar became this magnificent fortress.
The Alcázar played an important role during the Spanish Civil War – a notable battle took place here, with Francoists successfully defending the fortress from their foes. Today, the Alcázar’s home to the Museum of the Army and the second largest library in all of Spain, the Biblioteca de Castilla La Mancha. At the top of one of the towers is actually a café with a fabulous panorama of the whole of Toledo.
San Servando Castle
Medieval monument in Toledo
The origins of the San Servando Castle date back to the 7th century, though its real expansion flourished only in the 11th century. Later it was King Alfonso VI who handed the castle over to the templar order which remade it into a monastery. Sadly, tourists are not allowed inside, so you can only admire it from a far. Though you can cheekily enter the castle area still – by booking a room in the hostel inside of the San Servando castle.
Puerta de Bisagra
The oldest city gate in Toledo
Puerta de Bisagra is the main city gate built in the 10th century, during the times when the Arabs ruled the area. Puerta de Bisagra is also referred to as “Bisagra Antigua”, a term used to distinguish this gate from Puerta de Bisagra Nueva, which was built in the 16th century. During the period of Muslim rule, the Bisagra Antigua gate served as the main entrance to Toledo, but after the construction of the aforementioned new gate it became obsolete.
This caused the Puerta Antigua to begin to lose its former glory over the centuries and become a ruin. It was not until the restoration efforts of the early 20th century that the gate was rediscovered and can still serve us today as a beautiful marvel.
Zocodover Square
Toledo’s most famous square
The bustling Plaza de Zocodover is the heart of the city. It’s the place where Toledo’s social life plays out, with festivals and major events organised here. The square is riddled with a dense network of cafés, restaurants and confectioneries.
You can also find an information centre for tourists in the Plaza de Zocodover, where you can receive a free map of Toledo and get some help figuring out the area.
Cathedral of the Virgin Mary
Toledo’s historic Gothic cathedral
To be in Toledo and to not pay a visit to the local Cathedral of the Virgin Mary is, honestly, a sin (😉). It’s one of the finest examples of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture in all of Spain. The cathedral was built on top of the foundations of an eight-century mosque, which, in turn, was erected on the site of a sixth-century Christian temple, marking a whole loop. No wonder Toledo is called the City of Three Cultures.
The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary is built with white Olihuelas stone, has a soaring 100-metre tall tower and beautiful, intricately decorated portals on the main facade. It’s worth noting that the preparation room inside the church hosts a true marvel – a Pinacotheca with works by famous painters such as Rubens, Caravaggio, Velásquez and El Greco. The Toledo Cathedral is a real feast and we would not want your conscience to be burdened by missing out on this one.
Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
The oldest synagogue in Toledo
The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue is the Arabic influence visible in the decoration. In this respect, meaning aesthetically, the building is closer to a mosque than a synagogue. Interestingly, from the 15th century onwards, the temple actually served neither side – after the expulsion of Judaism from Spain, the synagogue was rebranded into a Christian church.
Santa María la Blanca was built in the 12th century in the mudejar style, quite characteristic for the period. The inside is a stunning sight, with its white interiors, the coffered ceiling and the semi-circular arches supported by ornate pillars.
El Tránsito Synagogue in Toledo
A unique synagogue in Toledo
This synagogue is located in the former Jewish quarter of Toledo and was founded in the 14th century by Samuel ha-Levi Abulafia – treasurer of King Peter I. The building was originally intended to serve as a private place of recollection and prayer, but over time it became a temple where worshippers from all over Toledo gathered. The intricate wall decorations with floral motifs and inscriptions in Hebrew and Arabic are incredibly impressive.
Today, it’s home to the Sephardic Museum, a place with the intent of spreading knowledge about the Jewish history and culture once so commonly present in Castile.
San Juan de los Reyes Monastery
A jewel of Gothic architecture in Toledo
What to visit in Toledo? The Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes, built in the 15th century by the Catholic monarchs as a symbol of the strength of the Christian faith and to commemorate their victory against the Portuguese at the Battle of Toro. The monastery was originally intended to serve as a mausoleum for the royal family, but ultimately this intent fizzled out.
Instead, the Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes now acts as a jewel of late Gothic architecture in Toledo. You will be amazed by the richly decorated towers, impressive cross vaults, the intricately carved cloisters and, finally, the charming garden in the courtyard.
A stroll through the streets of Toledo
Toledo’s top attraction
What’s worth seeing in Toledo? You know, apart from the great sights with vast history and what not, there’s also the simpler things, like an ordinary walk through the streets of the city. Take a stroll along its narrow winding streets, pick out the interwoven knits of Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures in Toledo’s architecture and get lost in the sights of the colourful flowers decorating the equally beautiful balconies.
Finally, and we recommend this so often for a good reason, take a seat in one of the local cafes, order a coffee and their local delicacy, marzipan, and just people-watch in Toledo, like a spy peeping through a portal to a different world.
El Greco Museum
Toledo’s most important museum
The Museo del Greco is located in the Jewish quarter of Toledo. It’s a great visit for at least two reasons – firstly, you can learn a lot about one of the most important figures in the history of Toledo. Secondly, you can see paintings we may only know from history books first-hand. It’s not too common a knowledge that El Greco was a Spanish painter and sculptor of Greek origin (hence his nickname, El Greco, which, yes, literally just means Greek). He came to Toledo to complete his commissions, yet, as often ends up being the case, stayed in the city for years.
The museum is housed in El Greco’s former home.
Mirador del Valle
The best viewpoint in Toledo
At the end of your tour in Toledo, it’s nice to take a look at all that you’ve just witnessed from above. For this, we recommend the Mirador del Valle, from where you’ll get a breathtaking panorama of the city, including the Alcazar, the chaotic web of streets, the cathedral and all of the beautiful surrounding nature.
We recommend either making the stroll to Mirador del Valle an event in itself or combine this trip with another attraction – a ride on the Train Vision tourist train, for instance, which goes straight to the viewpoint.
Map of Toledo attractions
What to see in Toledo?
1) The Alcázar of Toledo
2) Toledo Cathedral
3) Zocodover Square
4) San Servando Castle
5) Puerta de Bisagra
6) Santa María la Blanca Synagogue
7) El Tránsito Synagogue
8) San Juan de los Reyes Monastery
9) El Greco Museum
10) Mirador del Valle
11) Toledo Station
Toledo’s among our favourite cities in Spain and we can’t recommend it enough. It’s not just the architectural beauty and the multitude of great monuments you can see here, but the atmosphere, something not quite as larger-than-life as Madrid or Barcelona, but a more local, personal place, like a place the world hasn’t quite got to yet.
Atmospheric cafés, exquisite restaurants and the wonderful weather will welcome you with open arms if you choose Toledo. We’d recommend staying for more than a day here, even if you’re just visiting from Madrid. There certainly is enough to see here.
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