Visit Toledo: the Capital of Spain from the 16th Century

Toledo is about 70km south of Madrid and is the former capital of Spain. It is now a world cultural heritage site, and is best-known for its sculptures and metal decorations. It is brimmin with a classic Spanish style.

Wandering around the streets and alleyways in Toledo, you can see Mudejar and Gothic churches and mosques that combine Arabic and Roman styles. You can also find Visigoth or ancient Roman buildings, synagogues and Renaissance-style palaces. Lots of outstanding works which represent the 15th and 16th century architecture of the Spanish golden age are preserved here.

In addition to the ancient cities and ramparts, other cosmopolitan historical interests includ the Tagus River bank with its bridge and gate, a Roman colosseum, and the city defense system in the Iglesia del Salvador. This is also the starting point of Don Quixote's journey, so most souvenirs are related to Don Quixote and weapons.

Alcazar of Toledo is located at the top of Toledo, and is the most significant building in this old city. The top-level library, where you can overlook the beauty of the whole city, should absolutely not be missed.

In the 13th century, this majestic castle was a defensive structure, but now Alcazar of Toled has been transformed into Museo del Ejército. At the bottom of the museum, you can see theoriginal features of the castle, all of which have become broken brick walls.

Toledo Cathedral is one of the three major churches in Spain. It was a Muslim mosque before and is now a Gothic Catholic church. Five groups of painted wooden sculptures reflecting Jesus' life on the altar of the main church are one of the most brilliant decorations in the whole architectural complex.

The skylight on the main altar makes up for the dim lighting in the church, as if holy light is shining down on Jesus. The choir hall is also a highlight of the church. The two rows of seats in the choir hall are composed of exquisite wood carvings. The upper seats are carved with images of saints, while the sculptures on the lower seats show the historical scene of the recovery of Granada during Granada War.

Toledo Cathedral is also a museum. It will take you more than two hours to see all the religious paintings, murals, and religious relics on exhibition there.

Puente de San Martín is the best place to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Toledo and the Tagus River! At sunset, it's great to watch Toledo from afar!

Puente de San Martín is located on the edge of Toledo, and straddles the Tagus River connecting the old city with the western part of this city. There is a cable car on Puente de San Martín which brave people can attempt to cross.

The Church of San Juan de los Reyes is located in the center of Toledo. The churches in the monastery are gorgeously decorated, and the double-corridors are breathtaking.

The first floor of the double-corridors is designed in a Post-Gothic style, while the second floor is designed in a Mudejar style (an integration of Arabic and Roman style). It's definitely worthy of your admiration. The exquisite stone carvings and peaceful atrium in the church also create a unique and quiet temperament in the monastery.

The New Gate of Bisagra is the front entrance of Toledo, and was built in the middle of the 16th century. It is the only entrance where you can enter the ancient city and is an obligatory stop for any traveler in Toledo. It is engraved with the emblem of Carlos I of Spain.

The entrance itself is absolutely impeccable. On both sides are symmetrical cylindrical solid walls engraved with inscriptions from the Spanish literary master Miguel de Cervantes written to Toledo: "The glory of Spain, the light of Spanish cities".

Plaza Zocodover is located in the center of the old city. It is a bazaar during ordinary times, and a bullfighting arena during special events. The most interesting feature is that the chairs in the square form a Don Quixote mosaic.

The square is surrounded by houses with colonnades. There is an Islamic arch on the square known as El Arco de la Sangre, which the protagonist Don Quixote, from Cervantes' famous novel, rode a skinny horse through, walking into the dark Middle Ages and embarked on his adventure.

There are lots of cafes and restaurants on the square. The traditional bazaar still remains today, and hosts a famous market on Tuesdays.