Toledo, a museum waiting to be discovered

Standing on a promontory over the River Tagus, the historic city of Toledo awaits you. Its old town, with over a hundred monuments representing nearly all the artistic styles, is a unique "urban museum" with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Toledo is a unique city. Over 2,000 years old, it is a symbol of the meeting of cultures. Its old town in particular is a faithful reflection of this spirit: churches and buildings of the most varied architectural styles - Arabic, Mudejar, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance... - stand side by side, forming a stunning set of monuments. This city in Castile- La Mancha is located in the centre of Spain, some 70 kilometres from Madrid or just 30 minutes by high-speed train.

A labyrinth of art

You will soon realise that "getting lost" in the streets of Toledo is a genuine piece of luck. Take your time to stroll through them at a leisurely pace and discover one of the richest monumental heritages in Europe. Synagogues, mosques, palaces, convents… The list of places of interest is a long one, comprising over a hundred monuments.

You can get to the old town via one of the numerous gates in the city walls, such as the Puerta del Sol, the Alcántara Gate or the Bisagra Gate. During your visit to the old town, be sure not to miss the Cathedral, an extraordinary work of architecture that merits an unhurried visit: the Mudejar ornamentation, the choir stalls, the wrought-ironwork, the sacristy - a genuine museum of painting with works by artists such as El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Goya - and the Treasure Room where the magnificent gold and silver Monstrance used in the Corpus Christi procession is displayed, are some of the most outstanding features.

A thousand and one routes

In addition to the Cathedral, Toledo offers many other places of interest. Did you know that the nine vaults in the Cristo de la Luz Mosque originally came from theGreat Mosque of Cordoba? And then there are the synagogues of Santa María la Blanca and El Tránsito, the latter housing the Sefardi Museum. Visit the Alcázar fortress for an impressive view from the highest point of the city.

You will also be delighted by the Church of Santiago del Arrabal, a superb example of Mudejar art; the Fuensalida Palace, which dates to the early 15th century; the Tavera Hospital, a large Renaissance building with paintings by Titian, El Greco and Ribera; and the Church of Santo Tomé, where you can admire another painting by El Greco, The Burial of Count Orgaz.

However, all these are just a few examples of the numerous monuments in Toldeo: to make sure you don't miss anything, call in at any Tourist Office. Similarly, at the Historic Toledo Visitors Centre located in the Church of San Marcos you can obtain information on the city and its history, and plan your own route in an enjoyable and fun way through the various audiovisuals and interactive activities. Come to Toledo and enjoy art and culture in Spain.