the View of Toledo by resident El Greco c. 1608
Toledo in the 16th century
the Tagus River curling around the city
Toledo, Spain: The spire of the Cathedral is on the right, and the Alcazar is on the left
Panorama from across the Tagus River (June 2014) The spire of the Cathedral is at center left, and the Alcazar is on the right
distant aerial view of the city
A vista de Toledo:
the city of Toledo as depicted in the Codex Vigilanus in AD 976
the Tagus River curling around the city
The Alcazar in the old city
The Alcazar in the old city
the cathedral spire is on the right
the Tagus River curling around the city
Reconquest of Toledo in 1085 by Alfonso VI
the local flag of Toledo
Mosque of Cristo de la Luz
The Alcantara Bridge, built by the Romans c 190 BCE — Collotype from 1889
The Cambrón Gate has been identified as the BAB al-YAHUD (Gate of the Jews), documented as the entrance to the Jewish Quarter
door
statue of Don Quixote de la Mancha
door
Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca
Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca detail
ceiling
Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca detail
Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca
ceiling
floor tile detail
rose window
wall with the organ
The retable (altarpiece) of the Cathedral is an extremely florid Gothic altarpiece; it is one of the last examples of this artistic style, which was disappearing as the Renaissance began to take hold in Spain. Commissioned by Cardinal Cisneros, the work was begun in 1497 and finished in 1504. It is hand-carved in wood and depicts paintings that told the Bible stories to the illiterate people of that time that couldn't read.
ceiling
'The Disrobing of Christ', by Spanish Renaissance painter El Greco
Jewish inscription in the Toledo Cathedral
St. Francis and Brother Leo (or Brother Rufus) Meditating on Death by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)
St. Luke by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) 1605-1610
Apostle St. Peter in Penitence by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) c 1605
Apostle St. Peter by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)
1610-1614
Apostle St. Andrew by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)
1610-1614
this is the only remaining portion of the altar of gilded wood designed by El Greco for the painting "The Disrobing of Christ"
In 2012 they discovered a portion of a massive picture frame designed and hand-built by El Greco over a period of two years. Most of the ornate picture frame was burned, but this small piece was saved.
El Transparente of the Cathedral
Ed Barrett and our local guide walk past the Portal of the Lions
our local Toledo Cathedral guide
Portal of the Lions, Toledo Cathedral
Toledo is bedecked with flags for the Saints Day celebration
Toledo had an exhibition of instruments of torture, which I am happy to say that we missed
craftsman hammering gold threads into a filigree
4 stages of making a filigree design
souvenirs of Toledo including Toledo steel swords
flowers
Roman ruins?
Arthur Luehrmann in the courtyard
other old artifacts in the courtyard
Gail Barbano in the courtyard
statue of Don Quixote de la Mancha
Don Quixote and his look-alike, Arthur Luehrmann
old print of Don Quixote
old cart
delicious Manchego cheese for which the area is famous
on the left is aged Manchego, with fresh Manchego on the right
on the way from Puerto Lápices to Granada