Is not so easy to describe Toledo in a few sentences. And it is not a very big city if we stick to what is in sight. But of course, between all the things buried under the feet of the people of Toledo and the number of centuries, warriors, magicians and kings that have passed through here, we soon discover that the history of this place is longer than what we think. It is for that, why this place is a World Heritage Site since 1986 and a Historic-Artistic Site since 1940. It’s a lot, for sure…
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Is not so easy to describe Toledo in a few sentences. And it is not a very big city if we stick to what is in sight. But of course, between all the things buried under the feet of the people of Toledo and the number of centuries, warriors, magicians and kings that have passed through here, we soon discover that the history of this place is longer than what we think. It is for that, why this place is a World Heritage Site since 1986 and a Historic-Artistic Site since 1940. It’s a lot, for sure…
Toledo has also been called Toletum, Tulaytula and other things that we don’t know. It has had many names because it has been many things, but the only thing that has always been there is the impressive hill that supports it a hundred meters above the River Tagus.
Many cities claim to have been founded by Hercules, but Toledo has a proof: the cave that the Demi-God dug with his bare hands and that can still be seen in San Ginés Street.
Those who don’t believe this apparent Herculean origin, say that the cavity must have been part of the work of the Roman aqueduct. And it is true that there were Romans here. They came to convince the Carpathians, who lived here between the city walls, that Rome was the future, and ended filing the city up with their constructions, such as an aqueduct, thermal baths, roads and even a circus of which its remains are in one of the parks of Toledo.
We are talking about two thousand years ago. Toledo still had to receive the Barbarians, become a Visigoth capital, be conquered by the Muslims, establish an independent Taifa kingdom and return into Christian hands in 1085.
A time of mixed races and relative tolerance between Muslims, Jews and Christians began, and it was to flourish with the famous School of Translators and a lot of works that brought more beauty to a city with all the signs of having always being beautiful. It’s from that time that the nickname of “the city of the three cultures” comes from.
And it’s not that the city has not been in any troubles, no. We still have to add to what we have already told you, and without going any further a few medieval wars and the Revolt of the Communeros in the times of Charles V. The emperor, winner of the fight, liked this city as much as his grandparents Isabel and Fernando, so it became the centre of his empire and Toledo continued riding high until Phillip II took the capital to Madrid.
While walking through this streets at night, it is difficult not to fantasise with swordsmen, mysterious rituals and the smoke from the alchemists. And that is why Buñuel and Dalí founded the Order of Toledo, which obliged the members to visit the city at least once a year and to wander the streets for an entire night. Of course, after drinking everything in sight.
