Updated on October 6, 2017
Day 1 of Spanish Vacation: Toledo on February 2nd, 2017
The first of our three-day stay at Madrid, and we picked the historic city of Toledo for our visit.
Historically, the city of Toledo has been the capital of the Spanish empire for nearly five centuries, and had housed the seat of the Spanish Church until the last century.
Train Arriving at Madrid Metro Legazpi Station
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So in the morning we took the city metro to Plaza Elíptica Subway Station, where we boarded a bus to the city of Toledo. In the bus station part of Plaza Elíptica, there were tourist-friendly direction signs of “Toledo” everywhere.
By the way, it seemed that the more people on the same ticket, the lower the average cost of the bus ticket. While this wasn’t something new, I didn’t expect this rule to apply to the scenario of only two people.
Toledo Bus Station Interior
The tiny Toledo Bus Station was situated just outside the city of Toledo, and we followed fellow passengers on the bus into the city.
I shall confess that the day’s visit to the city of Toledo wasn’t very well-planned, there were better routes to follow and more attractions to see.
It’s like 10 minutes later and we saw some escalators in front of us, as I began to marvel at how tourist-friendly this city was.
Escalators up City of Toledo
North Toledo
Street of Toledo
Buildings by Plaza Zocodover
Alcázar de Toledo
Alcázar de Toledo Exterior
Tower of Alcázar de Toledo
Entrance to Alcázar de Toledo Library
Our first stop of the day was Alcázar de Toledo. Unfortunately, we didn’t find its visitor entrance at first. It took us 15 minutes to walk around its perimeter, and find Alcázar’s a museum entrance just where we started.
Alcázar de Toledo ExteriorWith female statue in the foreground as monument to the siege.
Palace across Tagus River
Exterior Walls of Alcázar de ToledoWith decorations of Santa Maria erected in 1904.
Internal Exhibition of Alcázar de ToledoAbout Spanish history, history of the Toledo city, etc.
The first floor of the Alcázar museum featureed extensive exhibitions of Spanish history, of armors and weapons used in the wars near Toledo. However, the majority of the descriptions were in Spanish, so we just skimmed through them.
Foundations of Alcázar de ToledoUpon which the modern facilities of exhibition rested.
Exhibition of Toy Soldiers in Parade
The other floors of the Alcázar museum featured more exhibtions, which we weren’t so interested at.
But to be honest, since the Alcázar was heavily damaged during the World Wars (Spanish Civil War to be exact), converting its interior to an educational museum wasn’t such a bad idea compared with building a new but useless castle.
Sculpture of Angel Healing Solider
Luckily, there were still parts of this Alcázar that wasn’t museum, one of which was this royal chapel, if I remembered correctly.
Chapel and Tent in Alcázar de Toledo
Inner Court of Alcázar de Toledo
And there were the court and plaza. The Alcázar pretty much overlooked its surrounding buildings, and that was a windy winter morning. So we didn’t stay long outside.
Alcázar de Toledo Exterior
Gate to Alcázar de Toledo
Spanish Flag Flying over Alcázar de Toledo
Inner Court of Alcázar de Toledo
Colonnaded Gallery
Stairs Leading up in Alcázar de Toledo
Tomb and Chapel in Alcázar de ToledoI guess dedicated to the souls lost in the siege of this alcazar in the Spanish Civil War.
After that, my friend found on TripAdvisor that the best view from Alcázar de Toledo was actually from its (free) library situated on the opposite side of the Alcázar as the museum. So we went there again.
Alcázar de Toledo Library
View of South Toledo
View of West Toledo
View of North Toledo and Alcázar de Toledo
No, we didn’t want to annoy the library-goers, so we took these photos from the cafe, one story above the library.
Our next stop of the day was Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo, the capital of the Spanish Church until the last century.
Streets of Toledo
Streets of Toledo
Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition Building
Streets of Toledo
Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo
Portal of the Lions ExteriorIt is so named because of the lions that surmount the columns of the gate that encloses the small entranceway.
Once in Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo, we pretty much followed its audio guide.
Chapel in Toledo Cathedral
Toledo Cathedral InteriorWhere the shape and size of the columns manifested power and force.
Sculpture in Toledo Cathedral
Organ in Toledo Cathedral
Painting in Toledo Cathedral
Retable in Toledo Cathedral
Sculpture of Jesus by Portal of the Lions
Rose Window above Portal of the ClockThe oldest stained glass of the cathedral.
Light Falling through Windows of Toledo Cathedral
Chapel in Toledo Cathedral
Chapel in Toledo Cathedral
Chapterhouse and Antesala
The ChapterhouseWith the archbishopric chair in the center.
Frescoes in the Chapterhouse
The ChapterhouseIn two rows and lining the walls are the portraits of all the archbishops from Saint Eugene to the last.
Ceilings of AntesalaCoffered wooden ceiling with lacery of interlaced laths in exotic shapes to reflect the Islamic population in the Toledo by that time.
Wardrobes in the Antesala
Portal by Diego Copin to the Antesala
El Transparente
El Transparente
Skylight Cut
Details of El Transparente
El Transparente
El Expolio (The Disrobing of Christ) by El Greco
Vault Painting by Luca GiordanoClothing of Saint Ildephonsus with the Chasuble
Chapel of the New Monarchs
Monarch Tombs in Chapel of the New Monarchs
Chapel of the New Monarchs and its Grilled Doors
Collection of Crosses
Doorway to Capilla del Santísimo
Chapel in Toledo Cathedral
Fireplace by The Descension Chapel
The Descension Chapel
Monstrance of ArfeThe monstrance is famous for being used in the annual feast of Corpus Christi of Toledo.
Monstrance of ArfeThe monstrance is famous for being used in the annual feast of Corpus Christi of Toledo.
Monstrance of ArfeThe monstrance is famous for being used in the annual feast of Corpus Christi of Toledo.
Decorated Choir Walls
Toledo Cathedral Interior
Decorated Chapel Doors
Chapels by the End of Choir
Christ Crucified before Retable
Sculptures above Choir
Figures of Three Magi’s in Retable
Choir
Decorated Choir Chairs
That day the cloister of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo seemed to be closed, and we didn’t climb its tower since it’s not time for its guided tour.
After that, we headed for the next stop of the day, which was Iglesia de San Idelfonso. But before that, lunch (at 14:30, long overdue).
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Toledo Cathedral West Portal Exterior
Streets of Toledo
Lunch
Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Chapel in Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Iglesia de San Idelfonso wasn’t the most exciting and breath-taking church in this historic city, but it offered great views from its towers.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo and Alcázar de Toledo from Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Dome of Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo and Alcázar de Toledo from Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Tower of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo from Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Iglesia de San Idelfonso Interior
Alter of Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Stained Glasses of Iglesia de San Idelfonso above OrganUpon seeing this, I was reminded that I studied at Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, IIIS for short.
Alters in Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Alters in Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Iglesia de San Idelfonso Interior
Chapel in Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Dome of Iglesia de San Idelfonso
Chapel in Iglesia de San IdelfonsoDisplaying Crucifixion scenes.
Sculpture of Saint Ildefonsus before Iglesia de San IdelfonsoPatron of the city and Father of the Church. Tower of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo in the background.
Iglesia de San Idelfonso Facade
After that, our next stop was Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes.
Street of Toledo
Street of Toledo
Mini Plaza in West Toledo
Gothic Spires of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Mountains in South Toledo
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Exterior
Sculpture by Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
We had a bit of trouble finding the entrance of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, as it was undergoing renovation. At one point, we were mistaking it for the entrance of Escuela de Arte Toledo, which was a nearby art school closed to visitors. Gratefully, a kind local lady led us to the correct entrance.
Eagle Coat of Arms of Escuela de Arte Toledo
Main Chapel of Monasterio de San Juan de los ReyesIts alter was undergoing renovation.
Alter of Side Chapel in Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Decorations in Alter of Side Chapel in Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Ceilings of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Main Chapel
Cloister Passage in Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Cloister
Cloister and Nave of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Cloister
Cloister Passage in Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Cloister
Dome of Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Cloister
It wasn’t towards the end of our visit that we found Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes offered free WiFi to its visitors, and one can find (only) its audio guide through that WiFi.
Decorated Visitor Entrance to Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Decoration of Chains of Monasterio de San Juan de los ReyesThose chains could either symbolize mankind’s breaking free from its sins, or just simple decoration, as its audio guide explained.
Toledo Streets by Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
San Martin’s Bridge
Our last stop of the day was San Martin’s Bridge, a bridge in West Toledo across River Tagus. To be honest, I really enjoyed leaning on that bridge in the wind watching scenic views of its surrounding countryside.
Puente de San Martín across Tagus River
Puente de San Martín across Tagus River
Tower with Showcase of Puente de San Martín
Tagus River
Puente de San Martín across Tagus River
Tagus River
Puente de San Martín across Tagus River
After that, we headed back for the bus station, passing some other famous gates of the city.
Toledo Campus Entrance of Universidad de Castilla La ManchaI was very surprised that such an ancient city could harbor a modern university.
Universidad De Castilla La Mancha Información AlumnosI was more surprised seeing such a magnificent façade with giant columns as a university building in such an ancient city.
Street of Toledo
Puerta del Sol
Street of Toledo
Puerta de Bisagra
Coat of Arms of Double-Headed Eagle on Puerta de BisagraOf Charles V.
Spires of Alcázar de Toledo among Buildings in Toledo City
Oh, we encountered some problem using the ten-ride ticket in Plaza Elíptica that we brought in the morning, as the machine never recognized our ticket. We solved the problem audadiously by following tightly behind somebody else and dodging ticket. Anyway, we had the poor ticket quality to blame. What could possibly go wrong?
Plaza Elíptica Bus Station Interior
Plaza Elíptica Bus Station Interior
Once in Madrid and under online recommendation, we decided to finish dinner at a restaurant called “Museo del Jamón” near Sol Plaza. It was a “museum” by name and a “restaurant” by online review, but only when we reached there did we find that it was a “pub” by nature, a popular one thronged with local people (that we even had some trouble finding places to finish our meal). Its whole storefront was decorated with hanging ham, which we didn’t like. But never mind, behind the counter of every great Spanish restaurant there was a English menu.
Dinner in Museo del Jamón
END
Day 1 of Spanish Vacation: Toledo on February 2nd, 2017 by Huang's Site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.