A DAY IN TOLEDO
Written: Jun 04 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: History Abounds
Cons: Easy to get lost!
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| MsWitt's Full Review: Toledo |
Arriving in Toledo by bus (1 hr south of Madrid),we looked upon an amazingly well-preserved walled city. This 2000 year old city is a nest of art and history. Toledo is perched on seven hills on the banks of the Rio Tejo. It is protected on three sides by the river, making it a natural stronghold. It's narrow winding streets are very medieval and very confusing, making it very easy to get LOST! This small, friendly city of 50,000, remains much the same as when El Greco arrived there about 400 years ago.
Our first stop (after a couple shops, of course!) was the Santa Cruz Museum. This building holds 18 El Grecos in a classical music setting. We spent about an hour there until they closed for Siesta. So we headed back to the center of the city called Zocodover Square and had lunch at a little outdoor cafe...Spanish omelettes, octopus and cerveza! After relaxing and people watching for some time, we found our way to the Cathedral. All we could say was "amazing","magnificant", mostly just "WOW"! The cathedral took more than 200 years to build. It is a variety of styles, but mostly Gothic. It has window after window of 500 year old stained glass and a wonderful collection of art in the sacristy. There was also beautiful Spanish music playing, making it a very relaxing and peaceful time.
We finally found Santo Tome which is a simple chapel with El Greco's most loved and famous masterpiece, "The Burial of Count Orgaz". The story goes that the count was a wonderful man and the town commissioned El Greco to do something in his memory. Thus, his picture. It is a contrast between heaven and hell. It shows two saints coming down to get his body while a crowd of men from the town stand behind him. He painted himself into the picture, and it gives the impression that he is staring directly at you. It is eerie! He also painted his son into the picture. He is sitting down with a white handkerchief on his lap which is where he signed his painting. So look closely when you go!
Leaving the chapel, we saw El Greco's house, which was just closing. No one is positive that it really was his house, but it is a Renaissance home with some of his paintings displayed, so it could be his house...maybe! We also saw the Alcazar, a huge, former imperial residence. This was just closing too, so we were unable to see the inside.
After walking more and getting lost more, we boarded the bus to go back to Madrid. We had walked Toledo for 8 hours, took lots of pictures, did some shopping, so we figured it was time to call it a day.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
MsWitt
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Member: Sandra Wittmayer
Location: Verona, Wi 53593
Reviews written: 86
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Grandchildren & Travel are the best pastimes in the World!!!
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