Throughout Toledo's history, the city has been home to: Romans, Visigoths, Christians, Jews and Muslims (Moors); and most of the time there was a peaceful and tolerant coexistence. Evidence of the latter 3 cultures is very visible, and often the 3 are combined in the architecture and aesthetics of the historic city.
This is reflected as you enter the city through the train station. As you all probably remember, the peace ended and both Moors and Jews were expelled from Spain. Unless they converted, but that is too much history to go into on this blog.
Anyway, according to at least one guidebook,the "Holy Toledo" of the title was a reference by the Jews to the sacredness of the city for them.
Toledo is the home of a magnificent cathedral, built over 250 years in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its sacristy is often referred to as the mini-Prado for the many art works by El Greco and numerous other name artists of the time.
There are many red Cardinal hats hanging from the ceiling - cardinals could choose to be buried in the church floor with their hat hanging until it rots.
We climbed the tower and saw the city from that perspective as well. We were unable to see the city from the classic viewpoint often seen in El Greco's work. There was some sort of religious festival and the road was closed so that people could walk it (sort of like when Lake Washingon Blvd. is closed for bicycle Sunday, only with religious overtones)
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