Toledo Attractions

Near the church of Santiago, in the town walls, is the Puerta Vieja de Bisagra, a ninth century Moorish town gate, with a horseshoe arch flanked by towers. Alfonso VI is said to have made his entrance to Toledo in 1085 through this gate.

Downstream from Puente de Alcántara can be seen the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge; 1933) and the remains of a Roman aqueduct. High above the left bank of the river is the 11th century Castillo de San Servando.

El Cigarral de Cadena in Toledo lies below a steep slope with many almond and olive trees. A rosemary-edged path leads to a decorative round seat and to the foot of the garden where roses and grapevines encircle a granite fountain.

The road which leads to the house is flanked with olive groves and cypresses. Below the house sandy paths bordered by lavender and lilac that lead to little pools and fountains. Inside the garden, there is a contemporary sculpture to commemorate the centenary of Dr Maranon's birth.

From the Puerta del Cambrón a road goes down, passing under the road encircling the north side of the town, to the Ermita del Cristo de la Vega outside the town walls. It occupies the site of a small fourth century church which was rebuilt after 660, when St Leocadius is said to have appeared to St Ildefonso, archbishop of Toledo. Of that church only the apse survives.

Northwest of the San Juan de los Reyes, lower down, stands the imposing Puerta del Cambrón, a double gateway dating from Visigothic times, which was rebuilt in the 11th century by the Moors and again in the 16th century.

From the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra the Paseo de Merchán, laid out in gardens, leads to the outlying district of Las Covachuelas, in which is the Hospital de Tavera, a large complex of buildings erected between 1541 and 1599. The church (1561) has a marble facade by Alonso Berruguete, and under the dome is the fine tomb, also by Berruguete (his last work) of Cardinal Tavera, founder of the Hospital. The retablo was designed by El Greco.

A little to the west of San Ildefonso can be seen the Moorish tower of the 13th century church of San Román, now occupied by the Museo de los Concilios y de Cultura Visigoda, with a collection of Visigothic antiquities, including crowns, sculpture and jewelry in addition to the frescoes which form part of the decoration of the church.

Outside the main front of the Cathedral in Toledo is the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, on the northwest side of which is the Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop's Palace). On the southwest side stands the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall; 1618), with two handsome corner towers and a beautiful tiled frieze (1595) by El Greco's son Jorge Manuel Theotocopouli in the chapterhouse.

From the Puerta del Cambrón a road follows the town walls, from which there are extensive views, to the 30m/100ft high Puente de San Martín, built in 1212 and renovated in 1390, from which there is a magnificent view of the Tagus gorge.

Along the town walls to the right of the Puerta Vieja de Bisagra is the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra, a double gateway dating in its present form from 1550 which is a magnificent example of military architecture. On the town side an inner gate flanked by towers leads into a court containing a statue of Charles V; on the outside of the main gate, which is flanked by massive round towers, is a large Imperial coat of arms.

Northwest of the Cathedral in Toledo are a number of fine churches. Calle del Nuncio Viejo leads into Calle Alfonso X. In a square on the left-hand side of this street is the imposing Baroque facade of the twin-towered church of San Ildefonso, which contains two works by El Greco.

From the Puerta del Sol, Calle Real del Arrabal leads down in a northwesterly direction to the outer district (arrabal) of Santiago, in which is the 13th century Mudéjar church of Santiago del Arrabal.

Farther northwest of the Cathedral is the monastery of Santo Domingo el Antiguo where El Greco is buried in the church.