Toledo is a town in the centre of Spain (Image: Getty)
A beautiful little walled city in goes under the radar despite being named one of the world’s best.
Toledo is a city in the municipality of Toledo. It has a population of just 90,000 and sits on the bank of the River Tagus.
Lonely Planet called it “one of Spain’s most magnificent cities” due to its dramatic siting over a gorge, the “compelling attractions” and “haunting” beauty.
The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage. The city, the seat of a powerful archdiocese for much of its history, has a Gothic Cathedral and a long history of producing bladed weapons.
The Old Town is located on a mountaintop with a 150-degree view, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the river, and contains many historical sites including the Alcázar, the cathedral, and the Zocodover, a central marketplace.
Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Image: Getty)
Alcázar was a fortress under the Romans, becoming a fortified palace in the Christian era. Each of its façades boasts a different style and dates back to a different period.
The east façade is Medieval, the west one is Renaissance, the north façade has a Plateresque design, and the south one is Churrigueresque.
Toledo has been a traditional steel-working centre since about 500 BC and became a standard source of weaponry for Roman legions after they fought Hannibal in the Punic Wars.
Today there is a significant trade with many shops offering swords, whether historical or modern swords or armour from the medieval period and other times.
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It is known as the “City of the Three Cultures” because of the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims, and Jews throughout its history.
Within minutes of one another, there is a Gothic cathedral, a 10th-century horseshoe mosque, and a 14th-century synagogue.
Toledo’s other forte is art, in particular the haunting canvases of El Greco, the influential, impossible-to-classify painter with whom the city is synonymous.
Those wishing to visit the city can fly into Madrid, just 47 miles away, from any major UK airport. From Madrid, there is a 30-minute train to Toledo. In and around Toledo, there are plenty of places to stay.