Toledo

Yesterday we took a day trip to Toledo, which is about an hour from Madrid. It's really a beautiful city, and completely full of history. Whereas Madrid has been subject to rapid expansion and thus a lot of old buildings have been torn down in the name of development, whoever is in charge of such things in Toledo was very careful to keep all the modern buildings outside of the main town center that dates back centuries. As a result, the streets twist and wind narrowly in every direction, and as you walk through you're surrounded by churches and buildings from as long ago as the 13th century (unfortunately I didn't take any pictures in the streets; I wish I had).

Here's me outside the city:



This is the ancient and beautiful Toledo cathedral:



From inside an old monastery built under Ferdinand and Isabela (15th century):



When people talk about Spain and its history, they often talk about the "three Spains" or the three cultures which have shaped the country in its past and present: Muslim culture, Jewish culture and Christian culture. Spain was a Muslim country during most of the dark ages, until the Moors were kicked out under Ferdinand and Isabela. The Jews never really had control of the country but have always been a strong influence. Toledo is one of the most potent examples of this. In most cities in Spain, when one culture triumphed over another, they would wipe out most remaining cultural relics that were left over -- mosques would be raised and cathedrals built in their place. But in Toledo, much of the older cultures was allowed to survive. As a result, you can find things like this synagogue: La sinagoga de Sta. Maria, or St. Mary's Sinagogue, which is filled with Muslim-style decorations and architecture.



So it was a really interesting visit. Here are a couple of views from inside the city looking out at the hills that surround it.