Toledo

Toledo - The kingdom of swords...

Toledo is spectacularly located on a mountain top surrounded by a bend in the River Tagus. It is situated approx. 70 kilometres from Madrid in central Spain and is the capital of both the province Toledo and the Castille-La Mancha region, with a population c.82,500. By car take the R5 & AP41, it's about a 1 hour drive from Madrid.

Toledo is famous for its sword making industry since 500BC and came to be regarded as the best in Europe.

Rich in its heritage, Toledo became known as 'the city of three cultures'. It has seen Christians, Arabs and Jews live side by side throughout the centuries. We can still see the existence of these cultures in so many of its splendid buildings to this day. From the medieval castle and gothic cathedral to many of its synagogues, mosques and churches - Toledo is a city steeped in history, with its mix of artistic styles, it's definitely worth a visit.

There's just so much to discover in this wonderful city, here are just a few fantastic places to visit: Cristo de la Luz Mosque, Toledo Cathedral, Fuensalida Palace, Alcazar Fortress, San Servando Castle, Lorenzana Palace, Plaza de Zocodover (market square) and so many more gates, monuments and museums, this list goes on and on...

...and finally don't forget to cross the medieval and roman bridges and take a stroll on the Paseo de Recaredo, running alongside the city wall and winding itself around most of the city and along the banks of the River Tagus.

Whilst you're in Toledo why not discover the routes from the famous novels 'The adventures of a rogue' and 'The wanderings of Don Quixote', in the surrounding areas.