World Heritage Photos

Historic City of Toledo: Toledo dates back to the Roman occupation in about 192 BC. It was the capital under the Visigoths and became a fortress of the Emirate of Córdoba in 712. In 1085, it was reconquered by King Alfonso VI of Castile. In the medieval city of Toledo, Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side for centuries. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V made Toledo his capital city: the Ciudad Imperial. In 1561, the Spanish King Philip II decided to move the capital city to Madrid. Toledo lost its political influence, yet the city remained an intellectual centre. The Greek painter El Greco (1541–1614) lived and worked in Toledo. Several monuments from the past centuries have been preserved in the historic city of Toledo such as the Alcázar of Toledo, the Cambrón Gate, and the Santa Maria la Blanca, a former synagogue. There also are some of the first examples of the Mudéjar architecture in the city. Toledo is situated 70 km south of Madrid in Spain. The Historic City of Toledo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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   Historic City of Toledo: The Puente de Alcántara is a unique Roman arch bridge over the River Tagus. The history of Toledo dates back to the Roman occupation in about 192 BC. The city was the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom and became a fortress of the Emirate of Cordoba in 712. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side for centuries. Toledo was reconquered by King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085. Several monuments from the past centuries have been preserved in the historic city of Toledo.

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   Historic City of Toledo: The 'Puerta del Cambrón' (Cambrón City Gate), or the 'Gate of the Jews'. The gate is adorned with a statue of Santa Leocadia, the patron saint of Toledo. This imposing Renaissance-style structure was built over the ruins of a Visigothic gate and was reconstructed in 1576. The Cambrón Gate was the main entrance to the former Jewish quarter (the Judería) of the city. The gate has four impressive square towers. The Historic City of Toledo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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   Historic City of Toledo: The Alcázar is a huge fortress situated on the highest point of the city. It became a Roman palace in the 3th century. The fortress was restored under the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II. Charles V made Toledo his capital city, but King Philip II of Spain decided to move the capital to Madrid in 1561. The Alcázar was severely damaged during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). After a major restoration, it now houses the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library and the Army Museum.

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   Historic City of Toledo: Santa Maria la Blanca is a former synagogue in the medieval city. In Spain, after several centuries, tolerance towards Jews ended by the end of the 14th century. In this synagogue, numerous Jewish people were killed during the Massacres of 1391. The building was converted into a Catholic church in the 15th century. Now, this synagogue is an impressive monument of Jewish history and is open to visitors. This outstandingly decorated building is the oldest standing synagogue in Europe.

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   Historic City of Toledo: Santa Maria la Blanca is a former synagogue in Toledo; this synagogue was built between 1180 and 1203. This imposing synagogue is a Mudéjar building constructed by Muslim architects on Christian soil for Jewish use. The interior of this building features finely decorated horseshoe-shaped arches. The synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca is now a museum. It is located near the El Tránsito Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the city of Toledo. Today, the El Tránsito Synagogue houses the Sephardic Museum.

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   Historic City of Toledo: View of Toledo. The painter El Greco lived and worked in Toledo. The El Greco Museum in Toledo houses many artworks by this master painter. One of his most notable works is 'View of Toledo'. This masterwork is currently exhibited in the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This painting was created between 1599 and 1600. The Spanish City of Toledo is situated on the banks of the River Tagus. The Historic City of Toledo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.

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   A distant view of the historic City of Toledo. To the left stands the Alcázar; the cathedral stands in the middle, and the remains of a Roman aqueduct stand in the foreground. Toledo is located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. Toledo is also known as the City of Three Cultures', for the cultural influences of Muslims, Jews and Christians reflected in its long and eventful history. The Historic City of Toledo was built on a hilltop and is surrounded on three sides by the Tagus.