Historic City of Toledo

Introduction

Toledo

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The Old City is nicknamed the city of the three religions, as once Catholics, Jewish and Islamic people coexisted here without many troubles. It is also the former capital of Spain, until Felipe II, moved the seat of power to the new capital Madrid, where he could get away from the powerful Catholic church, which in his eyes had become too powerful. The Old city is a maze of small streets, and a couple of squares, including the central Plaza de Zocodover. In the old city there are numerous sights one can visit, including the Cathedral, The Synagogue del Transito and many old churches.

Sights

• The Alcázar can be seen from far, unfortunately only a small part can be visited.
• The Cathedral is the focal point of the old town
• The Synagogue del Transito is one of the two synagogues in town, with an interesting exposition
• El Greco's House and Museum, Calle Samuel Levi 3 is the house of the painter El Greco, who lived in Toledo for many years and produced some of his most famous pieces here.

Getting There

By Train

Coming from Madrid (Atocha) you can reach Toledo in 30 minutes. Check the Renfe Spanish Railway for current timetables, or for details on how to get from Toledo to other cities.

By Car

The A42 motorway connects Toledo to Madrid. From Toledo you can take several motorways to other cities in Spain.

By Bus

Long distance buses are very common in Spain, so it is likely that you can get a busline to take you to Toledo from a lot of place. If you want to visit Toledo while you are visiting Madrid, you can go to the bus station near the metrostation of Méndez Alvaro. The journey to Toledo takes one hour.

Getting Around

Toledo

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By Car

Only people with a permit can enter the old city, so if you go by car, you have to park your car somewhere outside the city walls.

By Public Transport

There are busses going from the train and busstation to the old city. It's best to get out at the plaza de Zocodover, one of the bigger squares in the town, and to venture into old Toledo from here.

By Foot

From the bus station or the train station it's only a short walk to the old city. If you don't want to make the climb, there are escalators that can take you to the old city. The old part is a maze of small streets, making it difficult to find your way.