Secure atop a large hill 1 1/2 hours outside of the capital city of Madrid, Toledo, Spain is a national landmark that is eclipsed on three sides by the Targus River. Toledo is known as the "City of Three Cultures," because Arab, Jews, and Christians lived behind it's classic walls for centuries. The legacy of that triple culture lives on through the preservation of ancient churches, fortresses, palaces, synagogues, and mosques. Toledo, an artistic inspiration for sixteenth century painter El Greco, is one of the most pivotal European cities in Medieval history and today houses one of the most vast and impressive collections of museums in Spain.
Toledo's climate is very cold in the dead months of Winter, but can warm up spectacular during the months of Summer. A charming city where the economy is depended on a combination of tourism, farming, and wine-making, some Toledo villages stake their claim to fame in creating high-end pottery, others still create top of the line furniture.
The winding hilly streets of Toledo became fortified during the Roman occupation of the sixteenth century. The enormous walls that still envelope Toledo are the ideal place to begin a visit to the city. The Tourist Information Center sits outside the city walls and are fully stocked with maps to let visitors know just what's going on behind the mystical stone gate passionately dubbed the Puerta de Bisagra.
Toledo sports a vibrant tourism industry that has a long reputation of catering to traveling tourists. The city boasts an ample number of hotels, restaurants, and stocked souvenir shops. Travelers looking to beat the crowds at major tourists attractions like the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, San Sebastian Church, and the Gothic San Martin Bridge visit the crowd pleasers mid-week during the low-season.
