Treasures of Traveling in Toledo
Toledo is a wonderful Spanish city to visit full of culture, history and treasures of traveling. Toledo is located only 45 miles south west of Madrid so it makes it a wonderful day trip if you happen to be visiting the capital of Spain. Toledo is the capital of Castilla-la-Mancha and is an ancient Spanish city that is full of interesting things to discover due to its history of the co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures within the city. Toledo is one of the many cities of Spain with stunning treasures of traveling to see and explore while visiting such a charming city. Everything in Toledo is within walking distance, which makes it easy to discover most of the city. The historic center is small and dense so you will have the best experience of the city by exploring it on foot. Walking tours are one of my favorite ways to discover a new city. You can easily take the following walking tour of Toledo by using the map below.
Map of Walking Tour of Toledo
Below is a map of the Toledo walking tour. The map lists eight locations throughout Toledo that you shouldn’t miss. If you follow this walking tour from San Martin’s Bridge to the Mirador del Valle, it is only 2.92 miles (4.7 km) in total distance so if you decide to walk back using the same path, it will be 5.84 miles (9.4 km) total. If you just walk and don’t stop it will take you around one hour to walk the total distance. I would give yourself at least five hours or more to walk along the path and stop and visit many of the locations from the Toledo Cathedral to the Alcazar fortress or take in the sweeping views from the Mirador del Valle. If you decide to skip the longer walk to the lookout points across the Tagus River then the walk through the city is only 1.36 miles (2.2 km) in total distance so it will only take about 30 minutes to walk the path through the city. Toledo can be visited in one day, but keep in mind that the abundance of hills will make it a long and tiresome day.
Puente de San Martín
Puente de San Martín is a great place to start your day at because it is a medieval bridge from the 14th century. It is actually one of the two original access points to the city as the Tagus River surrounds the city of Toledo. This National Monument was built in 1390 and is the perfect introduction to the medieval city of Toledo. Generally this bridge can become crowded as many tourists come to walk across the bridge. If you are looking for something fun to do that will get you off your feet for a few minutes, then take the zipline across the Tagus River. This is also a beautiful place to return at the end of the day for views of the sunset!
Torreón de los Baños de La Cava
The Bath of the Cava of Toledo is a tower located downstream from the San Martín Bridge, on the banks of the Tagus River. It has several access points on three of the four sides of the tower. Each of the access points are at different heights allowing people to board boats throughout the year regardless of the level of the river. It was originally an Arab structure that was changed and modified over time through Christian interventions to what you see today.
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
After crossing the Puente de San Martín and viewing the Tower, climb the hill to reach the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes. The Convent of San Juan de los Reyes Monastery is a wonderful example of the Elizabethan Gothic style. It is a monument commemorating the achievements of the Catholic Monarchs in uniting the different Christian kingdoms. The architecture is impressively diverse relative to other sites in Toledo and Madrid.
Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca
Continuing along Calle de los Reyes Católicos, just down the street from the monastery, you will arrive at the Sinagoga de Santa María Blanca, a church in a converted 12th century Moorish style synagogue with a hall of horseshoe shaped arches. From the outside, it’s similar to many other churches in Toledo, but inside you will see the Moorish architecture and influence.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo
The Toledo walking tour continues to the city center where the Toledo Cathedral is located at. You will first arrive at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which is also where the Toledo City Hall is. This is a great spot to just sit down on the park benches under the trees and relax while you people watch. The Catedral de Toledo is actually one of the largest Cathedrals in Spain, just behind the massive Cathedral of Seville and one of the 10 largest in Europe. The exterior architecture is beautiful, but the inside is truly awe inspiring. You can easily spend two hours exploring this cathedral so if you enter, make sure you have time.
Plaza Zocodover
After leaving the Toledo Cathedral, you will make your way on Calle Comercio, passing by storefront after storefront, where you can find almost anything you would need while traveling in Toledo. You will finally arrive at Plaza de Zocodover, the hustling center of this historic city made up of three civilizations and of three religions. This square was the historic former central market during Moorish times. You can sit on one of the tree covered benches and just watch the world go by or have a meal or a drink at one of the many cafes in the square.
Alcázar de Toledo y el Monumento a la Gesta del Alcázar
Just down the street from Plaza Zocodover is the Alcázar de Toledo. You can actually see the towers of the Alcazar from the Plaza so there is no way to get lost as you walk down Calle Cuesta Alcázar. The Alcázar de Toledo is a former fortified royal palace that now houses a military museum. It is huge so if you plan to go inside make sure to give yourself at least two hours to explore the extensive exhibitions. Outside of the Alcázar is the Monumento a la Gesta del Alcázar. It is a statue completed by Juan de Ávalos and it represents faith embodied in a woman.
Mirador del Valle de Toledo
After visiting the Alcázar most people might choose to return to their hotel, but if you feel adventurous and don’t mind walking another 1.5 miles (2.4 km) for about 30 minutes you will arrive at a scenic overlook offering panoramic city and sunset views of the city of Toledo and the Tagus River. There are a few eateries and markets along Ronda de Toledo. If you don’t feel like walking you can also take a taxi or a ride sharing service. The view of the entire city is very beautiful because you can see the historical city center of Toledo with the Cathedral, the Alcázar, the old city walls and the Tagus River as it wraps itself around Toledo. This is one overlook you should not miss!
Traveling to Toledo
You can travel to Toledo from Madrid in a car, on a bus or by taking the train. I would suggest the train as it is the fastest. It takes about an hour in a car or bus, but using the high speed train from Madrid to Segovia takes only 30 minutes. It’s a great value and is the quickest way to get to Toledo from Madrid, although the bus will be a little less expensive.
Treasures of Traveling in Toledo
There are many treasures of traveling to visit in Toledo like the Alcazar and the Cathedral. Toledo has many things to offer any tourist and is filled with a few of the amazing treasures that Spain has to offer. There are also many other wonderful Spanish cities to discover like Madrid, Segovia and San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the central part of the county and Granada and Seville in the southern Andalusian region of the county.
— Luke Keeler
Check out the map below to see the walking tour of Toledo!
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