Bienvenidos everyone! We are traveling to Toledo, Spain, this month. The video below takes you through 7 must-[see sites of Toledo. We really enjoyed the history crash course and the brief glimpse into this beautiful city.
Food to serve:
- Marzipan: Toledo is perhaps most famous for its marzipan. With just almonds, sugar and eggs yolks, this sweet is really something special. Throughout the year, one of the most famous places to sample this delicacy is Confitería Santo Tome at Plaza de Zocodover, 7. Check out this simple recipe to make your own!
- Sheep’s Milk Cheeses: Queso de ovejaor aged sheep’s milk cheese is another typical and delicious product from Toledo. Look for unpasteurized cheeses with an almost flaky interior. Create a cheese plate to sample!
Things to do:
- Guitar Craft
- Flamenco Dancing: Undoubtedly one of the most famous cultural exports from Spain, flamenco is in fact so much more than just a dance: it’s an art form recognized as part of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. It emerged among the gypsy communities of Andalusia and is performed by a mixture of singing, guitar playing, dancing, finger snapping and hand clapping. Try for yourself below! ?
Toledo fun facts:
- Toledo was the former Spanish capital. Visiting Toledo, you’ll encounter the richness of Spain’s history and heritage up close. It was once the capital of Spain after all, up until 1560 when Philip II of Spain moved his court to Madrid that’s approximately an hour’s drive away.
- A ‘city of 3 cultures’ (A Judaic, Christian, and Islamic melting pot.) Different cultures have occupied Toledo over the centuries including the Romans, the nomadic tribes of the Visigoths, and the Moors from North Africa. Evidence of these diverse inhabitants can be seen in the representations of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam throughout the city. Here, we can find their lasting architectural marks in the well-preserved synagogues, mosques and cathedrals.
- Toledo swords are world-famous. From medieval times to Hollywood, one product Toledo has been renowned for since the 16th century is Toledo steel. Famous for the high-quality alloy that is remarkably durable, the steel manages to remain flexible enough to be made into swords. For this reason, Toledo became a center of traditional sword-making and Toledo swords became the standard weaponry among the Romans. Before the age of modern movie workshops, classic fantasy filmmakers in Hollywood are said to have sourced their metal props and swords from Toledo swordsmiths. You can buy souvenir swords from plenty of shops in the city (they might not make it through customs so easily, though).
- Marzipan is a culinary art in Toledo.The city’s most beloved confectionary is delightfully balanced and not too sweet. Elsewhere in Spain, marzipan usually comes in the form of a traditional Christmas cake, but here you can find it sold as a daily snack. Mazipan is made from almond paste and is traditionally made to resemble cute animals.
- Wonderful festivals that date back centuries. Toledo’s calendar is filled with annual festivities, some of which date back centuries. One of the most important is Corpus Christi, which goes back to the 15th century. This parade features a solemn, if wonderful, street procession where a rich gold and silver Gothic monstrance is paraded on a carriage escorted by a regalia-clad cavalry.
- Great to visit year-round, thanks to a pleasant continental climate. Toledo is centrally positioned in a plateau on the Iberian Peninsula and it sits about 500 meters above sea level. It enjoys a continental climate which is mostly dry and sunny throughout the year. With the crazy network of old streets aside, the city is compact enough to be explored on foot.
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