Toledo - The soul of Spain

This spring during my stay in Madrid I made a day trip to Toledo, only 30 minutes by train from the Atocha station. Toledo is a historic city on the Río Tajo and was at the center of Spanish political life for several centuries. It has had places of worship for Islam, Judaism and Christianity and is still an ecclesiastical center today.

As I walked from Toledo station toward the old walled city, I noticed posters advertising the upcoming performances of two circuses. I realized that while visitors like me were making our pilgrimage to this fabled city, the local residents were looking forward to the arrival of acrobats, bears and bulls.

Although the Alcázar fortress dominates the skyline from afar, it's rarely visible once you pass through the gates of the old city. Inside the walls, the streets are narrow and winding. As you ascend one steep street after another, the houses seem to get closer and closer. If you stretch your arms you can almost touch the houses on either side of the street.

During my walk through the old city I climbed to the top of the Iglesia de los Jesuitas for a panoramic view. I also stepped into the Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes to see its lush cloisters and rich artwork. At Iglesia Santo Tomé, I viewed El Greco's masterpiece El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz.