We decide for a walk through Toledo, but this time we want to explore Toledo a little more in detail.
We start at the Puerta de Bisagra, which actually consists of a double gate with a courtyard. On the front is a large coat of arms of the Habsburgs and in the courtyard stands a statue of King Carlos V.
From there we take the bus to the Plaza de Zocodover, where we do not stay long. Through the Travesia Barrio Rey, we come to the Plaza Magdalena with the Iglesia de la Magdalena.
We reach Calle Tornerias and continue to Teatro de Rojas. On the square in front is a nice little restaurant with tables under the green trees. We go around the next block and are at Plaza Cuatro Calles.
As the name suggests, some important roads come together here and you are at the center of activity. We assimilate the atmosphere of the medieval backdrops and busy crowds of shopping natives and international tourists.
Behind the cathedral on Calle Hombre de Palo, we discover a restaurant where the bullfighting tradition is still honored. A large sculptured bull head on the wall is framed by many images with scenes of bullfights and famous toreros.
In Calle Arco de Palacio, we meet Ana Alcaide, who wowed the passers-by with her play on medieval instruments.
She gives us the permission to use their music in our videos. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for this.
On the way back through Calle Comercia, the main shopping street Toledos, to Plaza de Zocodover, we try to devote ourselves more to the articles in the shops.
Besides marzipan and handheld fan, we find many arms shops with armor, swords, and knives.
Since about 500 BC, Toledo has been a traditional steel-working center. Hannibal used the swords from Toledo in the Punic Wars. Soon, it came to the attention of Rome and a standard source of weaponry for Roman Legions.
Toledo steel is famous because the hardness is much higher than Damascus steel. The Damascus steel is famous for the specific metal-working technique. The swords of Emperor Charles V were also manufactured in Toledo. It is not surprising that this tradition of craftsmanship continued to this day.
But there is something else that is often offered here: the fantastic tasting ham, the Jamon Iberico of dark-skinned Spanish pigs, which of course enjoys great popularity.
At Plaza de Zocodover, we come to the Arco de la Sangre. In former times, the gate that was the only entry to Toledo. In the courtyard is a statue of Spain’s national poet Miguel de Cervantes. An author in medieval clothes writes signs for you.
Back at the square, we observe a formation of soldiers in historical uniform. We suspect that these are uniforms of royal troops at the beginning of the 19th century. They are accompanied by MP (policía militar) soldiers.
Now we want to visit an old mosque, the Mezquita de las Tornerías in Calle Tornerias. It is a Moorish mosque from the 11th century which has overcome an eventful history.
Today it houses the “Center Foundation of Promotion of the Crafts”. Unfortunately, it is closed and we cannot see the building from inside.
We then decide to take a bus to see Toledo from outside. The Hop-on Hop-off bus starts at the Alcazar. We are glad to be able to sit for a while.
Please watch the 4K UHD video here
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationThe ride leads around the Alcazar of Toledo and down the mountain to the Puerta de Bisagra. From there, we cross the river Tagus to the train station. Since we already know the building we continue. The bus returns to the city and then crosses the Tagus on the Puerta de Alcantara again.
To the left is the infantry academy of Toledo. On the right, on the other bank of the Tagus, the mountain rises with the Alcazar. The Tagus flows through a deep valley. In a big loop, the bus circles up a steep hill. Then we reach the plateau. From here you have the most beautiful panorama view of Toledo.
We enjoy the sight and we are hardly able to stop watching.
Now we continue downhill to Puente de San Martin, where we leave the bus again.
Please read on > Toledo – City Walk and Bustour – Part 2
Pin it for later
Text, photos and video: Copyright © myVideoMedia