Toledo

We first had lunch at Alphonso VI hotel. We then walked to the Toledo Cathedral. The Toledo Cathedral is Gothic in architecture. It’s a large, very grand and very beautiful cathedral. The Toledo Cathedral has lots of organs. It also hosts an organ competition. The Treasure room is filled with works of art made from gold and silver. It is also the home of the great Processional Monstrance of Arfe. The Sacristy is filled with artwork from prominent artists such as El Greco, Caravaggio, Titian, Van Dick, Orrente, Tristan, Goya, Morales, and Jose Ramos. The al fresco on the ceiling spans the whole length and width of the ceiling. The fresco is the Descension of the Holy Virgin which is painted by Luca Giordano. There are 4 globes in the Sacristy that represent the four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas). The globes each have a different stone and animals. The Americas is the alligator and emeralds. The Transparente took my breath away. It is made by Narciso Tomé. The Transparente is comprised of a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, the relief of David and Ajimelec and the meeting of Abigail and David, Saint Leocadia and Saint Casilda, the Last Supper and Saint Eugene and Saint Ildephonsus.

Monstrance of Arfe

Descension of the Holy Virgin fresco painting

a painting by El Greco is flanked by marble columns that is flanked by 2 of the 4 globes

Transparente

We then meandered our way to Santo Tomé church. You’re not allowed to take pictures inside the Santo Tomé church. The Santo Tomé church is most famous for housing The Burial of Count Orgaz painting by El Greco.

Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The streets in the historic city of Toledo are made entirely of cobblestones and Toledo has a Jewish Quarter. An interesting fact about the historic city of Toledo is that the hydro boxes are hidden behind a fake wall facade so it makes the wall look much nicer. Spending an afternoon in Toledo is not enough time to truly explore and experience the city.