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.)
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana I love all the medieval buildings of Toledo.
Wandering Jana It’s a tower, or maybe a house. A tower-house, maybe?
Wandering Jana Even the more modern buildings fit into the medieval feel of the town.
Wandering Jana An adorable university entrance.
Wandering Jana My first stop was the gorgeous San Ildefonso.
Wandering Jana It’s a gorgeous 18th century Baroque church.
Wandering Jana There’s a neat fresco behind the altar. A little bit different from many Spanish churches.
Wandering Jana They let you up into the towers!
Wandering Jana The Alcázar and the cathedral.
Wandering Jana Cute little El Salvador.
Wandering Jana It’s really tiny but the church is a former mosque. Some of the columns and other decorations are Visigothic.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana They found Muslim/medieval tombs and these arches in this courtyard.
Wandering Jana Santo Tomé is super yellow. The most yellow church I found in Spain.
Wandering Jana All these little things on the bottom of the vaulted arches were different and painted.
Wandering Jana Very cute!
Wandering Jana Moorish arches are everywhere!
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Some of the decoration was added during the Christian era.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana It’s a gorgeous cloister, I must say.
Wandering Jana Very pretty.
Wandering Jana I love a good cloister.
Wandering Jana I love the corners of cloisters. I know, I’m weird.
Wandering Jana It’s full of ornate carvings like this one.
Wandering Jana The second floor of the cloister had a cool Mudejar ceiling.
Wandering Jana Super cool.
Wandering Jana I love these drain spouts. We got a cat, an eagle, a monkey and another bird.
Wandering Jana 
Wandering Jana You can visit this super fancy chapel on the inside.
Wandering Jana Lots of pastels going on.
Wandering Jana Love Toledo.
Wandering Jana Cristo de la Luz, another former mosque turned church.
Wandering Jana A very interesting building.
Wandering Jana Heading down the hill, through the Puerta de Valmardón.
Wandering Jana The massive Puerta de Alarcones.
Wandering Jana Inside the double gate of the Puerta de Bisagra.
Wandering Jana 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!
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