Toledo

Toledo is, quite simply, sublime! There really is no other word for it. I could try gorgeous or beautiful – but both seem inadequate words to describe a quite unique city. Indeed, Toledo (a UNESCO Heritage site since 1986) is one of the cities of Spain that restores one’s faith in the country. I say ‘restores one’s faith’ because many of the cities in Spain (particularly on the coast) have suffered terribly from the rampant, careless building of the past thirty years. All too often, a city (or town) will have a lovely ‘part’, some fabulous buildings or some wonderful squares. However, taken as a whole, one is left offended by the rest…

Toledo in Spain is different. The ‘whole’ is extraordinary and has been preserved superbly. It is stunning – and I challenge you not to be utterly seduced by it! Oddly enough, one of the reasons that Toledo is so well preserved is because it was sidelined by Madrid, when the latter became the effective capital of Spain. This occurred in 1561 when King Philip 11 moved his court to nearby Madrid. Prior to that, the capital of Spain had been (briefly) in Seville but otherwise, after the Reconquista, in Toledo.
The consequence of moving the capital of Spain to Madrid was momentous for Toledo, in that it reduced Toledo’s status to that of little more than a provincial town. Suddenly, it ceased to be a place of power and influence within Spain. Worst still, for the populace, was the loss of economic power. This stunted stunted Toledo’s growth over the centuries and, fortunately for us all, left its medieval character almost completely intact. So, if you want to see an almost perfectly preserved medieval city then Toledo is the place to go. It is packed with uninterrrupted historic buildings, fortifications (do not miss the Alcázar), a wonderful cathedral, convents, churches (some converted from synagogues and mosques) and museums. All of these are reached through narrow cobbled streets that wind their way around and up into the city.

Living in Toledo, Working in Toledo, Property in Toledo, Lifestyle in Toledo