Has anyone visited Toledo? I am thinking about going there in late July but I'd love to hear some opinions, tips, ideas from others....

Hi Marie,

I'm taking a daytrip myself to Toledo in late August. I'm an El Greco fan and one of the things on my list, in addition to visiting the Casa Museo de El Greco, is stopping by the Iglesia de Santo Tome to see "The Burial of Count Orgaz." I took a Spanish art history class in college, and I remember seeing the painting for the first time in our text and was completely awed by its detail. Seeing it in its real life setting should be a treat.

I believe getting to Toledo from Madrid is no problem at all. Buses are probably the best method since it is a relatively brief trip.

I'm sure others will respond with more suggestions as well. There is the cathedral and the alcazar.

I have been to Toledo twice and it is one of my favorite cities in Spain. It is easy to get there from Madrid, just take a train or bus. it's really nearby so it's like and hour drive maube 1 1/2 on train. Toledo is a fascinating city full of islamic, jewish and christian history, along with the cathedral, Alcazar, and teh art. It's a great city, you will relaly enjoy it, best of luck!

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San Lorenzo del El Escorial Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/homepage.html?957296168010

missmadrid98,

I checked out your webpage. Sounds like you had a wonderful life changing experience in Spain! Life is something!

We were in Toledo last year and it is an easy day trip from Madrid. Don't forget to stroll through the narrow streets of old town Toledo and eat lunch on one of the major plazas.
If you are taking day trips out of Madrid, don't miss Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen). I still believe this is one of the most dramatic sites in all of Spain.
Let me know if you have any questions.

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"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

yes twentysomething i did have a life changing experience in Spain. I absolutely love it there, I am planning to move there soon.

missmadrid98,

first of all, i am a HUGE fan of "Mullets Galore," so i loved seeing the link Mulletsgalore.com on your website!! never forget, FEAR THE MULLET!!! (que viva el "mullet"). Everyone who reads this should check out http://www.mulletsgalore.com , it is possibly the funniest site in existence is one of my favourites....

also, i used to live near toledo (in villanueva de los infantes) and was lucky enough to get to go there every now and then. if there is one thing you should do it would be to go to the parador on the south side outside the main "walls" of the city on a hillside and look at the vista de toledo... especially on a full moon night.. it must be what inspired domenico teotocopoli (el greco) in his style...

also, you can catch buses headed to toledo from madrid at the arguelles moncloa station (by the airforce building - can't miss it..) i'm sure you could also catch buses at the sepulvedana station near palos de la frontera metro stop..

hope this helps someone

Pd> vivan mullets; can you feel the mulletude??

ppd>also i wanted to include to miss madrid98 that i really like your Bio page on your website... i'm impressed with your effort to get to spain and your determination to have a good time! you must be a really great person... muy buena suerte, "ave maría cristina." ( i used to call my friend in spain this whenever i would meet her or see her around town...)

[This message has been edited by real_megia (edited 07-01-2000).]

thanks real_megia for your comments. Yes i love Spain very much and i will be moving there soon. There isn't a reason why I shouldn't and i'm on my way as soon as I get things in order. I am so glad you liked my website, it's kind of mickey mouse looking but i work on it daily to improve my information and data. I love to share my experience with spain and help all of those who would love to go. Spain has truly touched my heart and has become a part of my soul! I am working on my 5th trip i will be going in november to check out the situation of me moving there, really looking forward to it. Adios!!

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San Lorenzo del El Escorial Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/homepage.html?957296168010

missmadrid98 (ave maría cristina),

i wish you very much luck in your next excursion to Spain... i think you will do well and Spain will contiue to inspire that special area of your heart. who knows, maybe you will meet a special man there?

also, i wanted to suggest that if you are going to spend any time north of madrid in the sierra, check out Los Molinos, which is a cute little mountain village just a short busride past Pozuelo de Alarcón... it's great to be there for the encierros (the bull running), and the people are great, of course..

also, check out La Granja, toward Segovia... it's a summer palace for the Borbon royal family (was one, i should say).

anyway, i'll keep checking out your website now and then and i wish you muy buena suerte porque tienes muchísima cara (y duende)!

¡que viva españa paa siempre!

ah toledo, one of my very favorite places in spain. its labrynthine streets are just amzing. its a city with a splemdid arabic layout. most of the quarters have a very media-like feel to them.
as for places to visit that i would tell peole not to miss, i would start with the two synagogues. you cannot go to the epicentre of sephardic culture and not wander through these two monuments. la sinagoga de santa maria la blanca and la sinagoga del transisto are specatuclar examples of toledo's intermingling of jewish,muslim and christian culture. next i would make a special trek over to la mezquita del cristo de la luz. it is a mosque dating from 999 a.d. its the only purely arabic building remaining from before the reconquest. of course you'll want to wander through the alcazar and the catedral.
more than anything else you'll want to soak up the atmosphere in toledo. just walking the narrow streets of the juderia or taking a path down to the banks of the tajo..thats what the essences of the town is. its one of those amazing places where you feel as if you're walking in a place where something happened. one of the best ways to do this is to stay over night.(which i have) the darkness brings a eerie aura to the streets. you can really feel its moorish-medieval pulse. have a great time!