Toledo+-+Three+Empires+Routes+version

Puerta de Bisagra, s/n - 45071 Toledo
 * Population -** 77,601
 * Square Area -** 232 sq. km.
 * Distance from Granada** - 397 km
 * Tourism Office**

Known as the City of the Three Faiths, Toledo has a long and illustrious history, dating back from ancient times. It served as the capital of the Visigoths and following its conquest by the Moors, it continued to be a famous city, reaching its zenith during the days of the Cordoban Caliphate.

It was during that time that the city first acquired its nickname as the City of the Three Faiths, as Muslims, Christians, and Jews all co-existed peacefully and fostered a climate of learning and culture whose greatest culmination was arguably the translation of ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian texts into Arabic, thereby preserving them for posterity where they might otherwise have been lost for all time. Indeed, numerous scholars from all across Christian Europe, including England, came to Toledo expressly to study and take part in these translation efforts.

Even after the fall of the Caliphate and the 1085 capture of the city by Alfonso VI (Castile), the translation programs continued, although the emphasis now changed from translation into Arabic to translation into Latin.

Toledo is also famous for its importance in early Christianity. No less than 30 councils were held in the city from the 5th to the 16th centuries. Although these religious meetings were primarily concerned with the issue of various heretical sects, the fact that the city was so frequent a meeting place testifies to its importance in those centuries. Even today, the Bishop of Toledo is only second in importance to the Bishop of Madrid, despite Toledo´s relatively small population.

The city is divided into Old Toledo, where all the most important and interesting historical sites are and New Toledo, the fast-growing, cosmopolitan section outside the old city walls. (The population of New Toledo has tripled in the last 10 years, from 10,000 people to 30,000 people).


 * Sights**

Massive cathedral that dominates the Old Toledo skyline with a large gold altar, similiar to that in Sevilla's even larger Cathedral. Like Sevilla, it also hosts paintings by Goya, along with other exhibits, including a room with the portrait of each and every Bishop of Toledo ever to have received charge of the city's spiritual safekeeping.
 * Cathedral**

A much smaller church, it is nonetheless distinct for its twin towers that afford an excellent view of Old Toledo and much of the landscape beyond.
 * Jesuit Church**

The city of Toledo dates back to pre-Roman times and a look at the old city walls, which completely enclose Old Toledo and make it the most well-preserved medieval city in Europe, if not the world, reveals why. A river serves as the initial protection all around Old Toledo, the still-standing city walls the second line of defense. From there, it is a steep climb uphill towards the Alcazar, the focal point of the city centre's defenses.
 * City Walls**


 * Festivities**

Spring festival that re-enacts the battle between Moors and Christians during the Reconquest. Popular throughout Spain, it is equally so here in Toledo, though the festival has come under some criticism in recent years, because the Moors are always the losers.
 * Moros y Cristianos**

This is the solemn procession of the impressive, ornate, and intricate gold vessel used to hold the body of Christ in Toledo's main cathedral. During Corpus Christi, this splendid receptable is paraded throughout the streets in majesty and grandeur and its sight is said to be one of the most splendid and religious in all of Spain.
 * Corpus Christi**