Toledo

Toledo was the farthest south we traveled on this trip. It was hot! It was also an interesting city, with lots of remnants of the presence of Muslims, Jews, and Christians as they co-existed in the Middle Ages here and throughout the south of Spain. The old town was built at a horseshoe bend in the Tagus River, so it is almost completely surrounded by water. Again, the old city is a maze of narrow streets and church towers, widening only for a few small squares.

One of the medieval bridges over the Tagus River.

Note the Moorish horseshoe arches on the bridge.

A mudejar style tower.

A Gothic tower on Toledo's cathedral.

A modern building in the Mudejar style (which
came back into fashion at the turn of the century).

We happened to be visiting Toledo as they were
preparing for their annual Corpus Christi celebrations,
which is the biggest festival in the city. A procession
leads from the cathedral though the narrow streets,
and for comfort in the heat, these canvas awnings
are erected all along the way, which is also
decorated with banners and flowers.

In the morning before we left, we followed the
whole of the route, and managed that way to
walk all around the old city without getting lost!

People waiting for the celebration, which started
later that day, in traditional costumes.