Day Trip to Toledo

If you are in Madrid for a few days, I recommend you visit Toledo which is a nice day trip outside of the city. It is only 30 minutes by Spain's bullet train (RENFE). The cost is around 10€ roundtrip. You can buy your ticket in advance or the day of at the Atocha Renfe train station in Madrid. I bought my ticket the day of, but they sold out of the 10€ tickets so I ended up buying the more expensive seat for 17€.

I did the trip a couple of days a go and it was amazing. Toledo was the former capital of Spain so it is filled with medieval ramparts, Moorish and Western architecture, cobbestone streets, and narrow alleyways. It is also the home of El Greco's masterpiece-"The Burial of the Count of Orgaz." Toledo is a small walkable city perched on a hilltop overlooking a valley and river.

One of the main must-see sights in Toledo is the Cathedral. It's monolithic arches, gothic typanums, and exquisite treasures captivate those who visit. Here are some pictures of it:

 

Another lesser known site is the Cristo de la luz Church which was a Catholic Church housed in a former mosque (Mezquita in Spainish) during Moorish rule. It's curved arches and pillars display its simple yet intricate design. Not much remains of the
Christian era.. except for a few fading frescoes. Surprisingly the Moorish carved interior and exterior has survived centuries of conquest and reform.

You can a get a Toledo Pass which allows you to visit certain selected sites with some with some guided tours ( which is what I did).

Marzipan is also famous in Toledo so you must try and/or buy some before you leave!! There is a convent where nuns make marzipan and other treats. You just droo by and ring the bell to purchase some. Give it a try!!