"Toledo - the heart of Spain" a Toledo Travel Page by el_ruso

Toledo is the heart of Spain. It was already a capital of one of the local tribes when the Romans found it and named Toletum. According to the legends, it could be founded by Phoenicians or even Jewish colonists in the VI century BCE. It became a capita of the Visigothic kingdom in the VI century AD until it was conquered by the Arabs in the IX century. Arabs renamed it into Tulaytulah, and this period is known for peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews. It was retaken by Christian forces in the XI century and became a capital of Castilla & Leon, and served as the capital until the end of XVII century when it was moved to Madrid. The city went into decline, although the seat of Spanish church remained here. The local army garrison has resisted the Republicans during the Civil War against great odds.

The main site is the beautiful cathedral, the main one in Spain. The royal castle is also interesting. There are two ancient synagogues with a good museum. There is also a museum of a painter El Greco who lived here. In the beautiful church San Roman there is a museum of Visigothic art.

The joy of visiting the city is walking (and often climbing) its narrow medieval alleys that still retain the atmosphere of the times long gone, despite the tourists and traffic.

The city is under an hour from Madrid by non-stop train. Go to www.renfe.es for timetables. Then you can take buses 5 or 6 into the old town.

Толедо - старая столица Испании, город, где переплелись культуры христиан, мусульман и евреев, город, откуда через переводчиков вернулись в Европу знания античности и Ближнего Востока. С XIII века Толедо - столица испанской католической церкви.

Основные достопримечательности - величественный собор и королевский дворец. Есть ещё две древние синагоги с музеем, музей Эль Греко и, в красивейшей церкви Сан Роман, музей исскуства Визиготов. Кроме того, узкие средневековые улочки сохраняют атмосферу далёкой старины.

Город находится в получасе езды на поезде от Мадрида. Вы можете ознакомиться с расписанием на www.renfe.es. От вокзала в центр идут автобусы 5 и 6.