Toledo, Spain old town city skyline.

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Toledo

Toledo is truly one of Spain's most magnificent cities. Dramatically sited atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo, it was known as the ‘city of three cultures’ in the Middle Ages, a place where – legend has it – Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities peacefully coexisted. Unsurprisingly, rediscovering the vestiges of this unique cultural synthesis remains modern Toledo’s most compelling attraction. Horseshoe-arched mosques, Sephardic synagogues and one of Spain’s finest Gothic cathedrals cram into its dense historical core. But the layers go much deeper. Further sleuthing will reveal Visigothic and Roman roots. Toledo’s other forte is art, in particular the haunting canvases of El Greco, the influential, impossible-to-classify painter with whom the city is synonymous. Though it's justifiably popular with day trippers, try to stay overnight to really appreciate the city in all its haunting glory.


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May 17, 2024: In the afternoon, we traveled to the Walled City of Cuenca, which is a UNESCO site.  We met our tour guide, Diego Alvarez Martinez, at the Parador de Cuenca.  We walked across the San Pablo Bridge to the walled city.  Once across the bridge, we come upon the famous Hanging Houses of Cuenca.  There used to be many of these hanging houses, but now, only three remain.  We then walk over to the Cathedral of Cueca, which is notable for its Gothic, Romanesque, and Neo-Gothic architecture.  From there, we visit the Mangana Tower and the Cerro del Socorro for views of the town.  The Cerro is on the top of the Hoz del Huécar and there lies a large statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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Architectural wonders of Cuenca and Toledo

Jul 24, 2024 • 7 min read

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