Located about forty five miles southwest of Madrid, Toledo is a Medieval city of great historic importance. In 193 BC the Romans, who called it Toletum, captured the city. In 712 the Moors arrived. The period that followed was one of great prosperity and harmony for the citizens, which included Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Today you can still visit two of the ancient Jewish synagogues, La Sinagoga de Santa Maria and La Sinagoga El Transito. La Sinagoga El Transito is home to the

Museo Sefardi, the Sephardic museum, housing many artifacts of
Spain's Jewish past. The city is also home to many great cathedrals
and churches. The best example is La Catedral de Toledo. The Moorish
influence can be seen throughout the city, from its winding roads to
the arabesque arches seen on many buildings. The best example is
La Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz, an ancient mosque dating back to
999 built by the architect Musa Ibn Ali.

While visiting Toledo be sure to take a trip to the El Greco Museum. The museum has many of his great works on display. Toledo is home to many artists and artisans. You can see their work nearly everywhere you turn. World renowned for sword making and knives, Toledo continues to be a major producer of blades. Toledo is also known for its wonderful Talavera ceramics. Don't miss the opportunity to get some great works of art while you are there.

Toledo is also a city well known for its spanish cuisine. Some of the most popular Manchegan dishes are perdiz roja estofada (stewed red-legged partridge), carcamusa (meat stew in a spicy tomato sauce), and the gazpacho of La Mancha (a very rich winter stew). Enjoy a nice bottle of wine with lunch or dinner. Look for a regional denomination like La Mancha or

Valdepenas. To satisfy your sweet tooth be sure to try the famous
Toledo Marzipan, made of crushed almonds and sugar. For more
information about restaurants and cafes in Toledo visit the Appetite
Network website.

If you are interested in Jazz there are a couple of alternative venues
you may want to visit. The first is called the Broadway Jazz Club.
You'll find it at Plaza Marron near the Taller del Moro. A similar type
of club nearby at the corner of Calle Alfonso XII and Calle Rojas is La
Boite de Garcilaso. Both clubs have occasional live jazz.

For more information about things to do and see in Toledo check out
www.toledoweb.org. Click on Services in the navigation bar to find
out about the best venues for Night Life, Leisure Activities, Spectator
Events, Hotels, Restaurants, and Pubs. If you are looking for
directions to the monuments of Toledo click on City in the navigation
bar. This page will give you a list of monuments and itineraries for
Toledo and the surrounding area. Each section gives you pictures and
the addresses.



By train: www.renfe.es

The City of Toledo, Spain: www.ayto-toledo.org/
The Autonomous Government of Castilla-La Mancha: www.jccm.es
The Province of Toledo County Council: www.diputoledo.es