World Heritage Photos - Historic City of Toledo

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, King Philip II of Spain decided to move the capital to Madrid. Toledo lost its political influence, yet the city remained an intellectual centre. The Greek-born painter El Greco (1541–1614) lived and worked in Toledo. Several monuments from past centuries have been preserved in the historic city of Toledo, among them the Alcázar, the Cambrón Gate and Santa María la Blanca, a former synagogue. There are also some of the first examples of Mudéjar architecture in the city.

Toledo is situated about 70 kilometres 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 - Historic City of Toledo: The Puente de Alcántara is a unique Roman arch bridge over the River Tagus and was, together with the Puente...

Historic City of Toledo: The Puente de Alcántara is a unique Roman arch bridge over the River Tagus and was, together with the Puente de San Martín, the only access to the city for centuries. These two bridges lead to the city gates in the defensive city walls, which were built by the city's successive rulers. 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. Toledo was reconquered by King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side for centuries. Numerous impressive monuments from the past bear witness to this turbulent history.

Historic City of Toledo: The Puente de Alcántara is a unique Roman arch bridge over the River Tagus and was, together with the Puente de San Martín, the only access to the city for centuries. These two bridges lead to the city gates in the defensive city walls, which were built by the city's successive rulers. 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. Toledo was reconquered by King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side for centuries. Numerous impressive monuments from the past bear witness to this turbulent history.
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 Spanish Renaissance-style structure was built over the remains of a Visigothic gate and was reconstructed in 1576. At the time, the Cambrón Gate was the main entrance to the former Jewish quarter (the Judería) of the city. Four impressive square stone towers stand around the rectangular courtyard of the gate. Above the gate was a waiting area for the gatekeeper. Traffic still passes through the two archways today. The Historic City of Toledo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
The Alcázar is a huge fortress situated on the highest point of the historic city of Toledo. A Roman palace stood at this location as early as the 3rd century. The stronghold was restored under the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II. Emperor Charles V made Toledo his capital city, but King Philip II of Spain decided to move the capital to Madrid in 1561. The courtyard of this palace is surrounded by two storeys of beautiful arches; in the centre stands a statue of Emperor Charles V. After a major restoration, it now houses the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library and the Army Museum. In the Middle Ages, Toledo was famous for its steel and swords; a magnificent collection of them can be seen in this museum.
Santa María la Blanca is a former synagogue in the historic city of Toledo; this amazing shul was built between 1180 and 1203. This Mudéjar building was constructed by Muslim architects on Christian soil for Jewish use. The interior features finely decorated horseshoe-shaped arches. The Mudéjar artisans carved elaborate geometric shapes into the whitewashed walls above. The capitals, inspired by the Corinthian style, are decorated with pine cones, symbols of eternal life and fertility. The synagogue is now a museum. It is located near the El Tránsito Synagogue, which today houses the Sephardic Museum.
Historic City of Toledo: Santa María la Blanca is a former synagogue in the medieval city. After years of tolerance towards the Jews, the year 1391 marked a turning point. In this year of widespread persecution of Jews throughout Spain, almost all of Toledo's Jewish inhabitants were murdered in this synagogue during the Massacres of 1391. The building was converted into a Catholic church in the 15th century. The main chapel was given a vaulted ceiling in the shape of the scallop shell, the Christian symbol of the Apostle James, the patron saint of Spain. 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.
A view of Toledo and the ravine of the River Tagus, which the city surrounds on three sides. In the background lies the Puente de Alcántara, the Roman arch bridge spanning the historic river. The painter El Greco lived and worked in Toledo, a historic city majestically perched on the banks of the Tagus 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 now permanently on display in the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This painting was created between 1599 and 1600. The Historic City of Toledo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.
A distant view of Toledo. The historic city is strategically situated on a high rocky outcrop and is surrounded on three sides by the River Tagus. To the left rises the majestic Alcázar, while the cathedral dominates the centre, and the remains of a centuries-old Roman aqueduct lie in the foreground. Toledo is also famously known as the 'City of Three Cultures', due to the cultural influences of Muslims, Jews and Christians, who lived together here side by side for centuries; this heritage is reflected in its long and eventful history. The Toledo is located in central Spain, 70 kilometres south of Madrid.
Historic City of Toledo: The Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes was built on the orders of the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Construction of this impressive monastery began in 1477 and was completed in 1510. The church has a single nave and exceptionally beautiful star vaults. The cloister surrounding the monastery garden features Gothic arches on the ground floor, while the first floor has a magnificent Mudéjar-style ceiling. Hanging on the outer walls of the monastery are the original shackles used on the Christian prisoners whom these monarchs liberated from the Moorish prisons in Granada.