España: Wandering Toledo, Part 2

More explorations of Toledo. The one in Spain, not the one in Ohio.

I again made the journey from central Madrid to the wonderful city of Toledo. It was my second day visiting. I hadn’t planned on visiting two days in a row, but Toledo is just so amazingly worth it. (Check out Day 1.)

Zocodover. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

I cheated and took a city bus to the top of the hill from the train station. They drop you off conveniently at the Zocodover.

medieval building. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

I love all the medieval buildings of Toledo.

tower house. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It’s a tower, or maybe a house. A tower-house, maybe?

Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Even the more modern buildings fit into the medieval feel of the town.

University of Toledo entrance. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

An adorable university entrance.

San Ildefonso. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

My first stop was the gorgeous San Ildefonso.

San Ildefonso. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It’s a gorgeous 18th century Baroque church.

San Ildefonso. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

There’s a neat fresco behind the altar. A little bit different from many Spanish churches.

dome of San Ildefonso. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

They let you up into the towers!

view from San Ildefonso. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

The Alcázar and the cathedral.

El Salvador. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Cute little El Salvador.

El Salvador. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It’s really tiny but the church is a former mosque. Some of the columns and other decorations are Visigothic.

El Salvador. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

The 11th century church is built on a 11th century mosque, which was the expansion of a 9th century mosque that was once a Visigothic church. They excavated parts of the church. There is a small passageway you climb through to see more.

El Salvador. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

They found Muslim/medieval tombs and these arches in this courtyard.

Santo Tome. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Santo Tomé is super yellow. The most yellow church I found in Spain.

Santo Tome. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

All these little things on the bottom of the vaulted arches were different and painted.

Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Very cute!

archway. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Moorish arches are everywhere!

Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Another synagogue turned church is the Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca. There were a bunch of tour groups in there that just would not leave.

Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It was constructed in the late 12th-early 13th centuries. It was converted into a church after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.

Sinagoga de Santa Maria La Blanca. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Some of the decoration was added during the Christian era.

San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Coming up to the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes. I got to explore the cloister but not the church because someone was getting married.

cloister. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It’s a gorgeous cloister, I must say.

cloister. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Very pretty.

cloister. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

I love a good cloister.

cloister. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

I love the corners of cloisters. I know, I’m weird.

carvings. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

It’s full of ornate carvings like this one.

cloister. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

The second floor of the cloister had a cool Mudejar ceiling.

Mudejar ceiling. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Super cool.

spouts. San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

I love these drain spouts. We got a cat, an eagle, a monkey and another bird.

The Real Colegio Doncellas Nobles. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

You can visit this super fancy chapel on the inside.

The Real Colegio Doncellas Nobles. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Lots of pastels going on.

Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Love Toledo.

Cristo de la Luz. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Cristo de la Luz, another former mosque turned church.

Cristo de la Luz. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

A very interesting building.

Puerta de Valmardón. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Heading down the hill, through the Puerta de Valmardón.

Puerta de Alarcones. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

The massive Puerta de Alarcones.

Puerta de Bisagra. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Inside the double gate of the Puerta de Bisagra.

city walls. Toledo, SpainJana Irving

Just look how massive that gate is.

That’s all for Toledo. It was a great two-day visit. I really encourage anyone visiting Spain to make their way to Toledo. It’s a very walkable, gorgeous city that was fun just to wander around in. There are several museum and historic churches to visit as well. Well, worth the hour-long journey from central Madrid.

 

Check out my next update where I will be covering some random places I stopped in Spain!

or

Start at the beginning of my travels around Spain!

About Wandering Jana

Traveling the world to discover the past.
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