Back in November we finally got to return to Spain and this time we were lucky enough to visit some new places: Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia.
And we got to return to the city that made us fall in love with Spain: Barcelona. But this blog isn’t about Barcelona!
We were so excited to check out the capital and do some easy day trips to smaller cities to explore more of Spain. Our first day trip from Madrid was to Toledo. My parents had booked this day trip to Toledo with a private guide – and here’s what we did with our day in the historic town.
Our day trip to Toledo from Madrid
First thing in the morning we got in our private car and headed out of Madrid. Our driver took us up a hill where we had a sweeping panoramic view of the city below us (see the header image of this post!). Funnily enough this was on Thanksgiving so we took our family photo with the backdrop of historic Toledo instead a table with a turkey on it.
Then we stopped for a quick coffee and bathroom break before heading into the heart of the city.
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Our first (real) stop of the day was at the monastery, which was gorgeous. The church is Catholic but has a lot of Islamic influences in the art and architecture given the time period in which it was built.
The monastery began construction in 1477 and finished in 1504 and was founded by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. The building was built in honor of their son, Prince John, and the victory at the Battle of Toro.
The monastery was not busy nor super packed with people and our guide shared the history of the region and why the city has such a variance in architectural styles.
Jewish Quarter
Next we went to wander through the Jewish Quarter. Toledo is also known as The City of the Three Cultures: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. Everyone coexisted peacefully for centuries as different countries claimed or reclaimed the region.
We didn’t have time to visit the synagogues, which are now museums, but would do so next time we visit the city.
El Quijote de Mazapan Mas Grande del Mundo
We could not visit Toledo without sampling marzipan and seeing the Don Quixote made out of marzipan!
We stopped at the famous Santo Tome shop, which dates back to 1856, to get some marzipan and see the sculpture of Don Quixote made entirely out of marzipan. He stands almost 12 ft. tall! And he doesn’t even look like you can eat him!
Sword shopping
We perused a few shops selling authentic swords as Toledo is known for its swords craftsmanship. While all the shops offered international shipping, we did not end up purchasing a sword or two to hang over our fireplace but they were neat to see and hold.
There were also many art galleries and shops in this area and if we had more time I might have bought something that I wouldn’t have an issue getting through airport security.
Catedral Primada de Toledo
It was time to make our way toward another gothic cathedral, this time the Toledo Cathedral. Some expert architects consider this to be one of the best examples of the Gothic style in Spain and it’s easy to see why. This cathedral is stunning, both inside and out.
It began construction in 1226 and was not complete until 1493.
Museo del Queso Manchego
We ended our day finally grabbing something to eat (and of course drink) by visiting the Manchego cheese museum! The museum is quite small but cute and informative. The real draw is the wine bar and the varieties of Spanish cheeses and meats to sample!
We got a variety of aged manchego cheese and some cured meats to go with a nice bottle of Spanish wine. It was a fun, relaxing way to end our day in Toledo before heading back to Madrid for a real meal and to check out the Christmas lights.
We had a great time during our day trip to Toledo and would love to return to the city to see some of the historic sites we didn’t have time for – and let’s be honest, maybe visit a sword shop and buy one because who doesn’t need an authentic Spanish sword in their home?
Have you been to Toledo? What was your favorite thing to do there? Let us know in the comments below!
