Toledo, Spain is one of the top day trip destinations for tourists visiting the Madrid region of the country.\u00a0 A World Heritage Site as named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the city has a long and diverse history\u2014a place where Muslims, Jews and Christians once lived side by side in harmony with each other.\u00a0 Today, this confluence of cultures is palpable in Toledo\u2019s monuments, most of which are religious in nature and display a variety of architectural styles and designs.<\/p>\n
The Cathedral and other Christian Monuments<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps chief among the many precious monuments in Toledo is the Catedral Primada Santa Maria de Toledo<\/em>, a building which to locals is known simply as \u201cthe Cathedral.\u201d\u00a0 Rising high above the city\u2019s skyline, this one-of-a-kind monument was built in the 13th<\/sup> century under the rule of Ferdinand III.\u00a0 It typifies the Gothic style of Spain, while also incorporating other architectural styles from various eras.\u00a0 One of the highlights of the Cathedral is the altar located in the Main Chapel, on which you\u2019ll find glorious adornments, including full-size statues of prominent figures from the New Testament.\u00a0 Many famous works of art are also displayed within the Cathedral\u2019s walls, including the Arrest of Christ on the Mount of Olives<\/em>, by Spain\u2019s own Francisco Goya; and the Twelve Apostles<\/em>, by El Greco. Jewish and Islamic Monuments<\/strong><\/p>\n Although a handful of Mosques still exist in Toledo, the most significant is the Mezquita<\/em> or Mosque of Cristo de la Luz.\u00a0 Built of brick and small stones and completed in 999 AD, this small square-shaped structure remains in remarkable condition given its age, and strongly resembles another of Spain\u2019s important mosques, the Great Mosque of Cordoba.\u00a0 Although Christians assumed control of the building in the 12th century and added a transept, nearly all of the original features are still intact. Other Toledo Monuments<\/strong><\/p>\n Alcazar<\/strong><\/p>\n No list of Toledo\u2019s monuments would be complete without mentioning the Alcazar.\u00a0 Built in the 16th<\/sup> century, this castle-like fortress, built on Toledo\u2019s highest point, features a unique square shaped exterior and has a protruding square tower on each corner.\u00a0 Three of its facades showcase the Plateresque, Renaissance and Medieval styles, respectively; while the fourth evokes the architectural style of El Escorial, another one of Spain\u2019s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.\u00a0 Today, the Alcazar is home to Toledo\u2019s National Army Museum.<\/p>\n City Gates<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, if you plan to visit Toledo you should definitely take the time to visit its beautiful City Gates, especially the Old and New Bisagra Gates and the Cambron Gate.\u00a0 Formerly the primary entrance to the city, the Old Bisagra Gate was built in the 9th<\/sup> century by the Islamic military.\u00a0 The New Bisagra Gate was built in the 16th<\/sup> century in the Renaissance style, and features two circular towers that flank the outer wall.\u00a0 The Cambron gate, also built in the 16th<\/sup> century, is a Renaissance-style landmark of Moorish origin and the lone city gate open to vehicle traffic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Toledo, Spain is one of the top day trip destinations for tourists visiting the Madrid region of the country.\u00a0 A World Heritage Site as named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the city has a long and diverse history\u2014a place where Muslims, Jews and Christians once lived side by side in harmony […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-toledo"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nIn addition to the Cathedral there are a number of other important monuments associated with Christianity, including the Church of Santo Tome, a structure built in the Mudejar style of architecture and home to the famous Burial of the Count of Orgaz<\/em>, by El Greco; and the Church of Santiago del Arrabal, another outstanding example of the Mudejar style.\u00a0 Also popular among tourists are the Monastery of San Juan, built in the 15th<\/sup> century and designed by famed French architect Juan Gras, and the Convent of Santo Domingo El Antiguo, which houses copies of the original alterpieces designed by El Greco.<\/p>\n
\nThe two most significant Jewish monuments in Toledo are the Synagogue of El Transito and the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca.\u00a0 El Transito, or in English, the \u201cTransit Synagogue,\u201d was built in the 14th<\/sup> century in the Mudejar style, and is now home to the Sephardic Museum, a wonderful collection of items dating back to Toledo\u2019s founding.\u00a0 The Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, literally the \u201cSynagogue of Saint Mary the White,\u201d was similarly constructed in the Mudejar style, and features five horseshoe-shaped arches that lead to the way to the synagogue\u2019s various naves, each featuring brilliant decorative adornments.<\/p>\n