Explore Toledo through the eyes of American traveler Saul Schwartz, the top attractions around the Spanish capital. Want to know what must-visit attractions in and around Madrid? In this article, Sol discovers whether Toledo is worth a full day of travel itinerary and recommends a free hike to uncover the hidden gems of this World Heritage Site.
Saul Schwarz
Toledo is probably the most popular day trip in Madrid, with most tourists reaching the beautiful train station. The Toledo Railway Station was built in 1919 and reflects the city’s historic buildings. On both sides of the central part are two side water, one of which is adjacent to the bell tower. The interior is equipped with beautiful stained glass windows, horseshoe-shaped arches and decorated doorways.
From Toledo Train Station it is a very steep mile walk to the city center. The walk is very scenic, crossing the Tagas River, the same river we just saw in Lisbon, Portugal. We walked along the 16th century and earlier buildings, including the arched bridge built during the Roman era.
We chose Guru Walk for a free tour in Tip and our wizard. This trip is known as the history of discovering Toledo, while Alberto comes from following me Toledo. The trip began with Zocodover, the main square in Toledo. We walked into the bronze statue of Spanish writer Cervantes (author of Don Quixote) and entered the square through a large Moorish arch with a bell tower on it. The square contains several fast food chains, but there is a very nice supermarket on the square where we bought the food.
The focus of this tour is on how to bring together three different religions in Toledo over different periods. Toledo is a place that is unique, partly due to its Christian, Jewish and Muslim roots. We spent some time in front of the Toledo Cathedral and decided to explore the interior after the tour.
We especially like to learn from Toledo’s once large number of Jews. Although the Jewish population is now small, the 14th-century synagogue building has been transformed into a museum. The Jewish District is a place where Jews lived in the Middle Ages. We think how the city installed blue and white tiled markers on sidewalks and ancient walls to identify streets in the Jewish quarter. These marks include candlesticks and the word written in Hebrew. In one of the entrances to the Jewish Quarter, the streets have inscriptions, read the “Jewish Quarter” in English, Hebrew and Spanish.
The tour ended with a visit to Casa Palacio Rincon. This 9th-century palace house has been transformed into a rental unit, but retains some of the charm of the ancient palace.
After the hike, we chose to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Tickets are purchased at the ticket office near the cathedral and are priced at 10 euros per adult. The Cathedral is just a few steps from Zocodover Square. Gothic structures are hard to miss!
You may also want to read:
The construction of the church began in the 13th century and was completed in the 15th century. The exterior is a wonderful example of French Gothic architecture. It is one of the most majestic cathedrals in Spain. The temple is built on the top of a Muslim mosque. There is a tower to the left of the main facade. During our hike we learned that there was a big bell in the tower that was not functional due to the cracks. The main facade has three large doors.
The huge interior contains lovely stained glass rose windows, as well as vaults and pointed arches of ribs. The artworks inside the church are impressive, including many works by Spanish artist El Greco. We are also in awe of the colorful ceiling murals.
The high-speed train from Madrid’s Atocha station takes only about 30 minutes and the round trip costs 22 euros. Very comfortable high-speed trains run several times a day. We cannot use a credit card in the United States to purchase tickets online on the Renfe website. When we went to Atocha Railway Station to buy tickets, we had limited time that day.
The large Atocha train station is under construction, so it is difficult to drive around. To add to the chaos, there are several different Renfe ticket offices, but only one ticket for a high-speed train is sold. I recommend allowing extra time to find the right ticket office and arrive earlier in the day to provide more train options.
Saul lives in Alexandria, Virginia and has lived in Washington, D.C. since 1984. He enjoys traveling around Europe with his wife and family, especially with interacting with local residents and learning about their city and country life.
Saul had previously shared his travel insights with us. Look at him Lisbon 4-day city guide Or check his trip Modern Athens – Beyond the Acropolis Or he is Vatican: Pope Rome.
