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The first references describe Toletum in the 4^th century BC as the capital of Roman Carpetania. After this civilisation came two Germanic peoples: the Alans and the Visigoths, under whom Toledo lived a period of political and religious splendour. There then followed three centuries of decline for the city during Muslim occupation, until in 1085 Alfonso VI pushed for the repopulation of these lands bathed by the Tagus river and made them the capital of the kingdom of Castile.

In the second half of the 18^th century, Alfonso X the Wise, turned the city into one of the major cultural places in Europe. During this period, thanks to the famous school of translators of Toledo, many important philosophic and theological texts, which had been stored in Arabic and Jewish libraries, were rediscovered. Around 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo and left their mark with a multitude of synagogues.

The Catholic Monarchs had always showed their penchant for these lands. But in 1561, faced with Toledo's inability to accommodate all the official bodies, Felipe II transferred the Royal Court to Madrid. This factor was a turning point in the history of the city, until the Church gave new life to the enclave with convents and religious foundations.

The 19th century brought with it Romantic artists and literati, a demographic recovery and the railway (1858). Over the second half of the 20^th century, there was a new industrial boost and in the 80's, Toledo became the capital of the Autonomous Region of Castilla-La Mancha.

The most important monuments

Each and every one of the cultures and peoples who have passed through Toledo have left behind their architectural style and monuments. The city walls, for example, that had existed since the Roman era were reconstructed and given their current appearance by the Arabs. Many gates mark the route of the walls, but the Puerta de la Bisagra, which bears the coat of arms of the Imperial City, is the most representative, and also the gate that leads into the historic quarter of the city.

Mosque of Cristo de la Luz (10^th century). It is the only surviving mosque of its style from the ten that originally existed in the city. It can be found just after passing through the Puerta de la Bisagra. The horseshoe arches extend in a way reminiscent of, and based on, the Grand Mosque in Cordoba.

Synagogue of El Tránsito (14^th century). Beautiful plastered walls precede a rectangular-shaped interior covered with a lovely alfarje (latticed wood ceiling) which is also home to the Sephardic museum.

Primada Cathedral. Built in Gothic style between 1226 and 1493 on the site of a Visigoth church constructed during the reign of Recaredo. The sacristy plays host to a valuable collection of paintings by El Greco, Lucas Jordán, Van Dick and Goya. But all the rooms are works of art in themselves: from the Capilla de los Nuevos Reyes (Chapel of the New Monarchs) to the Capilla de Santiago (Chapel of Santiago), through the renaissance choir, the Mozarabic chapel and the chapter house.

El Greco House Museum. Although, as the plaque at the entrance indicates, the painter did not actually live here, this house accommodates paintings by the Cretan artist, such as The Tears of Saint Peter or The Apostolate.

Alcazar of Toledo. Located on the highest point of the town, during the Roman era it was a palace and under the Christians it became the first square-shaped fortification. Under King Carlos I it underwent important renovation work. Each façade is in a different style and dates back to a different era: the east façade is medieval; the west Renaissance; the north plateresque; and the south churrigueresque. It was destroyed during the French invasion and the Spanish Civil War, but was later reconstructed and now houses the Army and Military Museum.

Tradition

Here, time and history go hand in hand with craftsmanship: Toledo swords, ceramics or damascene work. Sword and sabre manufacturing is aimed mainly at the tourist market, although orders are received from armies elsewhere in the world.

Damascening is an Arabic decorative craft whereby gold or silver is inlaid into less noble but tougher materials (such as iron, bronze, steel, earthenware, porcelain...), and is used for making rings, bracelets, broaches, plates, etc. The city's streets abound with workshops and outlets given over to craftwork, that do not go unnoticed by the visitor, and which transform some spaces into mini bazaars.

Toledo's renowned cuisine is supported by the saying: "Cocinero y cochero, tómalos de Toledo" (The cook and the driver should be from Toledo), and by the references of Lope de Vega in his book The Toledan Night written during the Golden Age. Game is no doubt the key to this cuisine, which also benefits from excellent ingredients, including oils, saffron and a wide range of garden produce. Deer, wild boar, wood pigeons, turtledoves, quails and, of course, red partridges, fill the plates of those who come to sample a most traditional cuisine.

The menu does not stop there though. Roast suckling pig and lamb, and beans with partridge or hare, venison with mushrooms or grilled, marinated trout, aromatic smoked deer and crab soup are just some of the dishes to be sampled.

Also worthy of note are the pisto (fried vegetable hash) from La Mancha - made with the best vegetables of the gardens of Toledo - and pote (peppers with eggs). Although these dishes clearly have their roots in La Mancha, just as the city itself is a compendium of the most varied arts, its cuisine has successfully assimilated the Arab legacy, present in its confectionery, such as marzipan. Many sweets and jams originate from the city's convents: pestiños, the ring-shaped rosquillas or marquesitas... All washed down with a drop of Toledan wine: Méntrida, Yepes, Quintanar, Ocaña...

Celebrated since the 13^th century, Corpus Christi Week is the most important holiday in this city. The Monstrance of Arfe passes by balcony after balcony, all decorated with shawls, flags and flowers. The procession walks along streets covered with canopies, and the ground is strewn with rosemary and thyme, which are first trodden by the giant carnival figures, then the Civil Guard, the processional Cross, the fraternities with their banners, children who have just received their First Communion, brotherhoods, the clergy, the Archbishop, the authorities and the musical band.