This is Toledo, as seen from along the bend of the Tagus River. Toledo is roughly an hour's drive from the capital, so we visited this beautiful city during our orientation in Madrid. An UNESCO World Heritage sight, Toledo's architecture and art demonstrate the hybridization of Islamic, Christian and Judaic cultures that make up the backbone of Spain's rich history.
Entrance to one of Toledo's most popular sights, Catedral de Toledo.
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Far left is the tabernacle in Catedral de Toledo because I'm just crazy about that fantastic cathedral and I went a little crazy with my camera. In the middle and far right; the ceiling of the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, and an elegant 12th century synagogue that could easily be mistaken for a mosque. Not that I want to bludgeon you all with the monster that is my inner history geek, but long story short, this unique hybridization of Judeo-Christian and Islamic style is called 'mudejar'. Before the Inquisition and especially during Moorish rule, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in peace in Spain. Selective adoption of artistic styles created mudejar, a tribute to sincere inter-cultural admiration.
The two photographs above are from the inside of the Catedral de Toledo. This cathedral is like nothing I've ever seen. Construction began in 1226, and it wasn't completed until 1493. These pictures don't actually do this magnificent structure any justice, but I assure you I could scarcely breathe for awe despite the cool air and [very] high ceilings.
Yes, this is a friendly corpse lounging in bikini pose, welcoming visitors
to the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes. He is above the doorway to the monastery chapel, but our otherwise long-winded guide strode right beneath him as if leering dead bodies were customary church decor. (It's the random little things like this that I particularly love to discover while traveling.)
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