A Day In Historic Toledo, Spain

Toledo, is a historic medieval center located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire.

Toledo was the capital until the Moors conquered Iberia in the 8th century. Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, Toledo enjoyed a golden age. This extensive period is known as La Convivencia, i.e. the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.


On May 25, 1085 Alfonso VI of Castile took Toledo and established direct personal control over the Moorish city from which he had been exacting tribute, and ending the mediaeval Taifa’s Kingdom of Toledo.


Although you are not allowed to take photographs inside the beautiful Cathedral of Toledo, it is evident that Moors, Jews and Christians all contributed in the construction and design of this historic church.


Toledo was famed for its production of iron and especially of swords and the city is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements.


The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, also called Primate Cathedral of Toledo, was begun in 1226 during the reign of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century when, in 1493, the vaults of the central nave were finished. Its five wings plan is the consequence of the constructors’ intention to cover all of the sacred space of the former city mosque with the cathedral.


The Door of the Lions is of the 15th and 16th century. Is the most modern of the great doors. It is so named because of the lions that crown the columns of the grill.


Toledo was famed for religious tolerance and had large communities of Muslims and Jews until they were expelled from Spain in 1492 (Jews) and 1502 (Muslims). Today’s city contains the religious monuments the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the Synagogue of El Transito, Mosque of Cristo de la Luz and the church of San Sebastián dating from before the expulsion, still maintained in good condition –Wiki.


St. Martin Bridge in Toledo, Spain was built in the 14th Century and is still standing today. It connects Toledo to the West.


Obviously, it was a wonderful day to visit Toledo. It was sunny and 70 degrees. Toledo is a wonderful relic of Spain’s historic past.

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Jim Hoft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016. In 2023, The Gateway Pundit received the Most Trusted Print Media Award at the American Liberty Awards.

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