Visiting Toledo felt like entering a town where time had stood still for centuries. It is a picture perfect medieval town surrounded by rocky terrain, cut off by a river and perched on a hill accessible only through its drawbridges. I felt like I was inside a history book!

Madrid to Toledo

We arrived in Toledo from Madrid to spend a day in the medieval town. Trains run through the day between the two cities, which are 70 kms apart, in just over 30 minutes. When we arrived at the train station, we were presented with two options: either walk to the town or take a bus. We took the bus because we wanted to go around the periphery of Toledo to get a vantage point to see the whole town. And that’s where I shot this panorama.

A Panoramic View Of Toledo

A Panoramic View Of Toledo, Spain

Things To See In Toledo

For centuries, Toldedo has been known all over the world for its steel industry. The town’s steel industry dates back to the Roman times (around 500 BC) when it became the standard source for weaponry for Roman armies. So, obviously no points for guessing what every souvenir shop in Toledo sells!

The city of steel, Toledo

Steel selling souvenir shops aside, Toledo has a lot to see as a tourist. With it’s rich history of Christians, Muslims and Jews, Toledo is often referred to as the “City of the Three Cultures”. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. The remnants of these cultures manifest themselves in Toledo’s beautiful Alcazar, Cathedral, Synagogues and Monasteries!

On our way back to the train station we decided to walk. Sadly, a lot of the beauty we saw was undone when we were crossing the river and unfortunately looked into it. I think as a result of the steel industries (or not) that the river looked extremely polluted. We saw dozens of dead fish floating.

A sad sight indeed 🙁

Don’t let me leave you on sad note. If you’re looking to get out of Madrid for a day to explore, I highly recommend Toledo. It’s rich cultural history, heritage monuments and world-famous steel will definitely make it a trip to remember.