Toledo is an historic city, located 70km south of Madrid. Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986, the city is most famous for its magnificent Cathedral and the Alcazar (a fortress that was built by the Romans in the 3rd century and later renovated and expanded by various Castilian kings). Toledo is a popular day trip from Madrid due to its proximity but I highly recommend spending a few days there to explore its gorgeous cobblestone streets, ancient city gates and bridges as well as its many museums. Oh, and you have to try the city’s famous marzipan! The highlight is arguably the 13th century Cathedral which is a Gothic masterpiece.
The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. The legacy of these religions are very visible till this day, making Toledo (map) a fascinating city to explore. In addition, it’s a joy to simply wander around its cobblestone streets, pop into one of the many shops selling typical Toledo craft or indulge in delicious Toledo cuisine. Read my post about things to do in Toledo.
Views of Toledo from a plane window
On a recent flight to Madrid, the plane flew directly over Toledo as it approached Madrid Barajas airport and I was lucky to take a few shots of this stunning town. Enjoy the view!
The river Tagus can clearly be seen winding its way around the old city. In the following photo, the Alcazar (square building with the four towers) and the Cathedral (the large complex to the left of the Alcazar) can clearly be seen. The arched bridge crossing the Tagus river in the far right of the photo is the famous Alcántara Bridge that was built by the Romans.
Read more about reasons to visit Castilla-La Mancha.
