Cathedral of Toledo

The cathedral of Toledo, Catedral de Santa Maria de la Acunciòn de Toledo, is a masterpiece of the Spanish Gothic. The construction started under the rule of Ferdinand III in 1226.

Originally, there was a Visigoth church at the place. It was torn down and the Moors erected a mosque. One wanted to remove this influence of the Islamic religion radically.

Presumably, the architect Master Martin started the construction. Pedro Perez, who probably also designed the choir together with Villard de Honnecourt, continued it later.

The construction of the west façade with its two towers started in 1418 and was completed at the beginning of the 16 century. The north tower, built by Alvar Martinez and Anequín de Egas Cueman, is 90 m high and contains the treasure vault in the lower floor.

Jorge Manuel Theotocopuli, son of El Greco, designed the dome of the lower southern tower.

Anequín de Egas Cueman also designed the southern portal, the Portal of the Lions (Puerta de Los Leones).

The interior was modeled after the Bourges Cathedral with five naves. To the east are several chapels, the burial places of well-known personalities.

We marvel at the gigantic nave first and then go to the high altar. This consists of innumerable pictures, edged by gold-painted ornaments.

Petit Jean, Copin of Holland, Felipe Bigarny and Sebastion de Almonacid carved the altar. Gilded and painted by Francisco de Amberes and Jean of Burgundy. The altar of the Cathedral of Toledo was completed in 1504, the year of Queen Isabella’s death.

Please watch the 4K UHD video here

An artistically arranged choir room is opposite to the high altar. We go on around the high altar and find ourselves in a fanciful arranged chapels and cave landscape.

We then visit the cloister located in the north.

Although we have already visited a number of cathedrals in Spain now, we cannot say that we would have liked one better than another one.

All of them are gigantic in their dimensions and magnificently crafted. One invested a lot of effort in these buildings and created worldwide unique works of art. But the people have probably paid for it.

Please read on > Toledo – City Walk and Bustour – Part 1

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