Toledo Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions

Standing on a hill high above the Tagus River the UNESCO World Heritage city of Toledo was the former capital of Spain until 1560 when Philip II moved the capital to Madrid.

The city is a maze of tourist attractions where you will find a fascinating mix of Jewish, Moorish and Christian buildings in a city where these three great religions were able to coexist amicably. Nowhere else in Spain are you likely to come across so many places of interest within such a small area.

The city is only 140km from Madrid and is well connected by bus and train. You can also take scheduled coach tours and hire private drivers with guides for a day excursion.

Alternatively, you could stop for a night in Toledo on your way south to Andalucia or Extremadura. Check out availability of Toledo Hotels.

A one day visit doesn't do justice to the city as there is so much to see so, time permitting, you really should aim to spend a night here so that you can visit some of the many sights in the early morning before the hordes of tourists arrive as well as having the opportunity to dine in one of Toledo's traditional Castilian restaurants in the evening.

The essential sights of the city include the stunning Cathedral, the Alcazár (Fortress), two Synagogues and the Iglesia de Santo Tomé where you can see El Greco's greatest masterpiece. More of his works appear in buildings all over the city. If you are staying at or near the Parador you get a stunning panoramic view of the city's main sights which isn't possible from within the tiny streets of the historical centre.

Below is a list of the main tourist attractions in Toledo.

Toledo Cathedral

The site of the Cathedral dates back to Roman times. Under the Visigoths it was a basilica then under Moorish rule it became the city's main Mosque. After Toledo fell to the Christians in 1085 Alfonso VI promised to preserve the building as a Mosque for the city's large Muslim population. This promise was broken and construction of the great Gothic Cathedral of Toledo began in 1226. The building wasn't completed until 1493 and as a result of these two and a half centuries of work there are clearly different architectural styles employed in the construction, notably Mudéjar (Moorish style whilst under Christian rule) and Spanish Renaissance. Amongst the priceless art collection inside the Cathedral the highlight is El Greco's Twelve Apostles.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:30am-6:30pm;
Sunday: 2-6pm
Toledo Cathedral Pictures

Alcázar

As you approach Toledo from Madrid you'll spot the Alcázar (fortress) from the distance as it strategically overlooks the eastern plains of Castile from above the Tagus river. The building dates back to the 10th Century when it was built the most important city of central Moorish Spain. Under Christian rule it was supposed to be a royal residence but the court of Carlos I moved to Madrid so it served little purpose and became an army academy. The Alcazár became famous during the Spanish Civil War when it was almost destroyed during a 70-day siege. Franco had it rebuilt as a military museum. If you're pushed for time we'd recommend that you take a look at the building from the outside as the interior really isn't that interesting (in fact it was closed for refurbishing last time we visited).

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30am-2pm

Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes

This monastery with is exceptional cloisters was originally a Franciscan convent built by Fernando and Isabella (Los Reyes Catolicos) between 1477 and 1504 to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Toro. They had planned on being buried here but later preferred Granada as their final resting place after they took the great Moorish city in 1492.

Opening Hours:
Daily from 10am to 1.45pm and 3.30pm to 6pm (7pm in summer)

Iglesia de Santo Tomé

This tiny 14th-century church consists of a single room in the Jewish quarter in which El Greco's greatest masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (1586) hangs from the main wall.

Opening Hours:
Daily from 10am to 6pm (7pm in summer)

Toledo's Synagogues

After 1492 the majority of Spain's Jewish population was expelled by Fernando and Isabella. In Toledo there had been 11 active synagogues before the expulsion, today just two remain as museums. The Sinagoga del Tránsito, dating back to 1355, is the most interesting of the two most notably for the Hebrew inscriptions along its walls. The synagogue now houses a museum about the history of Jewish culture in Spain (www.museosefardi.net). The second synagogue is Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca which was built in the 12th century notable for its horseshoe arches.

Opening Hours:

Sinagoga del Tránsito
Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm & 4pm to 6pm
Sunday from 10am to 2pm

Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca

April to September daily from 10am to 2pm and 3.30 to 7pm
October to March daily from 10am to 2pm and 3.30pm to 6pm

Casa y Museo de El Greco

In the heart of Toledo's old Jewish quarter (Calle Samuel Leví, 3 ) is the House of El Greco which displays an interesting assortment of works by El Greco notably 'View and Map of Toledo' (Vista y Plano de Toledo). Although the artist never actually lived here it's still worth a look.

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 2pm & 4pm to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 2pm

Museo de Santa Cruz

This museum of art and sculpture stands just outside the Arab city walls and is worth a visit just to take a look at its amazing 16th century Gothic and Spanish Renaissance architecture. Inside you can visit the cloisters and displays as Spanish ceramics as well as seeing more El Grecos, the most famous of which is The Assumption of the Virgin (Asunción de la Virgen), his last known work.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 2pm