"Toledo" a Toledo Travel Page by alucas

We spent three days in Toledo in September 2004 as part of our circular tour via Jerez, Cordoba, Merida and back to Jerez. ANother day would have been nice - it was so hot that we took it at a very leisurely pace and missed quite a bit.

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The plains in Spain - near Banos

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Leaving Andalusia behind us, we set off from Cordoba and drove north east towards the Sierra Morena. We travelled through the pass known as "Desfiladero de Despenaperros" into central Spain. (See my Jaen page for the story behind this name )

In September, the "plains of Spain" lie parched and brown by the Spanish summer sun, but still possess a simple drama of their own. Huge brilliant blue skies fall to the ground, thousands of olive trees run to the horizon, interspersed by the occasional white washed villa. We passed Valdepenas, which is well known for red wine, and sped along fast roads towards Toledo and the centre of Spain.

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San Juan de los Reyes

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Toledo is a handsome, slightly sombre city, the old quarter standing proud upon a hill. The most prominent building is a towering much re-constructed Alcazar or palace. However Toledo is predominantly a Christian city with a vast cathedral and other churches presiding over a network of Arab alleyways. The streets are narrow and twisting and it is all too easy to get lost, but Toledo is a small city and exploring the streets and finding your way is all part of the experience - you will never be far away from a landmark.

Toledo was briefly the capital of Spain in 1560 and was the original planned last resting place of Spain's most famous Christian monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella in the beautiful church of San Juan de los Reyes - but that is another tale.