We made a day trip from Madrid to visit Toledo. The train was fast and convenient. I'd recommend booking at least 24 hours ahead of time, as we found that tickets were a bit scarce on the morning trains and several had already filled to capacity. It's a short ~10 minute walk from the station to the bridge where you enter Toledo city walls. It's a steep climb up to the main square. A bus is also available which I'd recommend for anyone with any mobility issues. We did not plan our visit carefully but were not disappointed. Everything is within a short walk (though be prepared for LOTS of hills). The walk from the main square to the Cathedral is perhaps 10 minutes. After ~2 hours in the cathedral, we just wandered the streets, visiting a number of churches (and discovering along the way the €12 "bracelet/pulsara" that allowed access to ~ religious sites. We could have easily spent longer. I regret not visiting the El Greco Museum. We finished the day with Sangria at a cafe on the main square and returned to Madrid in the early evening. Madrid is a "modern" city in the sense that little there dates from before the mid 16th century. So it is great to see the older city of Toledo.

After our first stop at Mirador del Valle upon entering the city of Toledo, Spain we were even more excited to see this beautifully scenic lovely town. Closer and closer to entering the city, the views sighted were even better and better. Some parts from a bridge are so picturesque, you can take pictures as if you were in a painting! Lovely, quaint old town perfect for the tourist, with lots to see. I was most excited by be in the town where the art of Damascene jewelry from Spain is historical in this place. We visited a demonstration of the art and, of course, I had a hard time choosing something for my collection, but I managed! Enjoyed lovely Toledo!

Toledo, Spain's capital city under the Visigoth kings and after the reconquest, is a beautiful walking city. Only by walking, slowly, can you savor the richness of its multilayered history and multiple cultures, roman, gothic, moorish, jewish, and christian. Kings, both christian and muslim, walked down these streets, as well as Doménikos Theotokópoulos , the famous painter El Greco. Built on the site of a 3rd century Roman palace, the Alcazar towers over the city, and was the site of one of the Spanish Civil War's most harrowing battles. Yes, there are innumerable touristy shops and restaurants, but they cannot hide the rich authenticity of the city.