2022 Tuesday, Oct 25

Toledo Rest Day

Sightseeing in Toledo. Our goal is to see the Cathedral and El Greco Museum (and anything else we can fit in).

5.2 miles walking for the day.

2022    Spain

Another great cathedral—pictures do not do it justice.
The main altar was gold, detailed, and grandiose.
The choir mixed wood, marble, and gold.
Because we were walking the Camino de Santiago, here is the Santiago Chapel. Shells decorated, and Santiago was prominently portrayed as the Moorslayer and in the altarpiece as a Peregrino.
Santiago is in the center of the Santiago Chapel altarpiece, flanked by saints.
This unusual painting above a clergyman’s tomb gives an impression of a glimpse into heaven.
This huge gold monstrance sits on an angel platform. It must have been 10-12 feet tall.
The simple-looking marble column dates from the 6th century (Visigoths). The inscription was translated, but only in Spanish. It is a testament to some of the earliest residents of that area.
The Church of San Salvador stands today where in the 9th century there was a mosque. Excavations are ongoing and have uncovered Roman, Visigoth, and early Christian relics.
This column in the church is a Visigoth picture column of Christian scenes.
The El Greco Museum was in the Jewish sector where a benefactor bought an old home and restored it in the style of El Greco’s time and displays his paintings. A favorite group is El Greco’s Apostles series. Too many pictures to show, but the painting of Christ is unusual as it faces the viewer and the hand gesture (always important to El Greco) blesses the view as in Byzantine icons.
The garden of the El Greco Museum.
Marzipan is a favorite product in Toledo. This bakery fashioned it in the style of one of the city gates.
The Bisagra Gate is like a gate within a gate. It was built by the Moors in the 10th century, then rebuilt in the 16th century. The outer portion has two round towers and a double-headed eagle over the doorway. The inner courtyard has two square towers crowned with ceramic steeples.
The Puerta del Sol has a medallion over the doorway depicting the ordination of the Visigothic Ildephonsus, Toledo’s patron saint. The sun and moon were once painted on the side of the medallion, giving the gate its name.
The Cameron Gate in its current state dates from 1576. It has four square slate-topped towers. The name comes from thorny bushes that once grew there. It is the only gate that is still open for auto traffic.
Toledo is surrounded by steep city walls.
Sunset along the ring road of Toledo.
As is often the case, people attach locks, usually with initials or some love token, to the fence.
The Tagus River viewed from Toledo.
The sunset was so unusual that I had to include this picture with Richard. The cloud lit behind him looks almost like a lightning bolt. Hmmm?

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