Adelaide's Travel Notes - Spain

Spain
Toledo

Toledo is about 70km far from Madrid. Sitting on the top of a hill and surrounded by Tagus River, it is rich in attractions. The Alcázar is a fortress that dominates the skyline. Site of dramatic events during the Spanish Civil War, when it was destroyed, it houses today an army museum.
After a 90-min train ride, you arrive at the picturesque train station (above) and enter the city through San Martín Bridge, built on the 14th century.
	The Gothic cathedral has touches of Mudéjar art, a remnant of the three centuries of Moorish domination. Middle Ages are still present in Toledo with the manufacturing of swords.
The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes was built under Ferdinand and Isabella's reign to commemorate their victory over the Moors.
In the Judería, or Jewish Quarter, you can visit the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca (a synagogue turned into a church), decorated with painted horseshoe arches, and El Tránsito Synagogue, from the 14th century, built by the influent Samuel Levi.	The Jewish community once thrived in this area, but were expulsed from Spain by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. The famous painter El Greco lived there in the 16th century. His works can be seen in many places, and one of the main attractions is the famous The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, found at the Church of Santo Tomé. Because of the legacy of three major religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in its architecture, Toledo was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

Links
Toledo, by Spaintour
Toledo, by World Heritage Cities of Spain
Toledo, Like a Travel through History, by All About Spain
Travel to Toledo and turn back in time
Toledo, Ciudad Imperial (in Spanish)
El Greco, by Carol L. Gerten
Swords from Toledo