No visit to Madrid is complete without a day trip to Toledo, the stunning, historical city along the river Tajo.
Less than an hour drive south of Madrid, Toledo should not be missed. In the winter it can be very cold here so the ideal time to visit is during the summer, when the temperature is always hot. Although it is now a place for tourists to come and see, five hundred years ago it was the bustling city center of Spain for centuries.
Given the honour of a World Heritage city, Toledo is as important as any other place in Spain and equally beautiful. The old city walls border Toledo and its winding, stone roads and picturesque buildings.
Toledo has been populated for thousands of years by almost every major empire to conquer what is now central Europe. Because of this there are remains of each dynasty sprinkled throughout the city.
When you are in this city you are truly in the middle of history. The city is famous for being the main place of co-existence for Jews, Christians and Muslims from seven hundred A.D. until fourteen hundred A.D. Many different religious monuments and buildings stood next to one another and people were free to practice whatever religion they wanted to.
During the 16 th Century it was home to the Spanish monarchy and was the capital city. Now, they city relies on tourism to keep running. There is a lot to do here but if you have a good plan it can be covered in a single day.
The first thing you see when entering Toledo is the Puerta Bisagra, the main entrance to the fortified city. When you pass through this gate you are actually passing through fifteen hundred years of history!
Alcazar is a spectacular castle, but was once a fortress and because of that has been rebuilt numerous times due to conflict and fires. There are many old cathedrals, mosques, synagogues and monasteries all over the city.
Other highlights include an assortment of interesting museums, a walk along the river Tajo and if you are lucky some amazing Fiestas.
Tours to Toledo from Madrid
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