You can't miss the whole jewish part of Segovia, including the Jewish cemetery, which is a jewel often missed by tourists, and try sephardic food (for example, el fogón sefardí) Also, the Casa de la Moneda is worth visiting, and the templar temple Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
I think an obvious city for the both of you would be Granada. There's tons to see, bags of history, amazing restaurants, and, of course, some decent flamenco and real flamenco history in the Sacramonte district. Here's another suggestion - Berlanga de Duero - it's pure Castile with some knockout sites and a very good restaurant.
Thank you James! I went on a tour of Toledo last year with Instituto Cervantes. Your tour with Diego brought back many fond memories of my time there especially Cristo de la Luz and the Cathedral 😍
@@mikelx191 the Americas and Africa have a rich history too. It's just a shame that the Europeans destroyed a lot of it. Oh and I wonder why the UNESCO sites tend to be concentrated in Europe... Could it be that it was started by and heavily influenced by Europeans? Oh the joys of colonization.
They don't call it qibla but mihrab - a niche that indicates direction to pray for Muslims. It is supposed to point to Mecca but in Islamic Spain, just like in Cordoba, it was not so.
So cool! It’s amazing to see the rich history in Spain! What a fascinating country! Hope to be able to visit from the US someday after this pandemic is behind all of us.
@@idemserra Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
Toledo has long been one of the most important places in the world to me. It is where I fully felt that Spain is my home (as much as a Jewish boy from Philadelphia can feel). And, as soon as we Americans can officially return to Spain, I will be heading back to Toledo to explore. James, your video showed me so many things that I did not know, I am so looking forward to touring with Diego's company and learning more about this incredible city. Thank you! And, btw, you also have me adding Cuenca to my go-to list as well. Well done, Kiwi.
Jeff, I feel like I'm a salesman for the Rough Guide but their Rough Guide To Spain has a very decent section on Toledo which is worth brushing up on before visiting. All the sights James goes too are mentioned and others. Reading the comments I'm genuinely surprised how many people visit places (I'm not trying to patronise) without knowing about the history and the sights. My wife is Spanish and we have been to Toledo many times. One thing that is not mentioned but we think is essential is to walk through the streets of the Jewish quarter of Toledo which is not around the synagogues. It's just cobbled streets and some old signs of the past. The historic atmosphere is palpable. You get that in Cordoba too (and its synagogue). Ubeda, in Andalucia, has also recently discovered a synagogue which is well worth visiting and so is the town as a Unesco sight which has a renaissance centre almost unique in Andalucia.
Excellent video, good camera work, you are really good as a tv presenter James and a great ambassador for Spain. I love your historical and food tours of Spain
I have been visiting Toledo for the past 5 decades and had missed many of these interesting details! You have definitely put Toledo under a new light; I will never see Toledo in the same way; you have made it young and vibrant again with new splashes of information. It is refreshing to see an adopted son of Spain speak with such "gusto" and passion for everything Spanish . KUDOS to you James ! Keep up the good work!
Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
@@DAn-ur8ik The places we visited in this video about Toledo are 1. The Roman Baths 2. San Román Church 3. Cristo de la Luz Mosque 4. Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue 5. San Juan de los Reyes Monastery 6. El Tránsito Synagogue 7. Saint Mary of Toledo Cathedral
My husband and I were there at the end of February it was our last holiday together as he died suddenly in July.😥 Such a beautiful place with so much history.We live in Tenerife so I hope to visit again one day.Very interesting video.Thank you.
I traveled to Toledo years ago and loved the Toledo jewish quarters. Such a magical city overall. A trip to Spain is not complete without visiting Toledo.
I had researched several locations in Spain that I want to visit and Toledo is at the top of my list for my next visit. I had known about the high level of historical sites there, which immediately grabbed my interest and this video has confirmed my decision to go there as soon as I am able. I am in awe of everything that you have filmed. From experience, the beauty of these sites shown on video are more amazing when seen with your own eyes, so I can't wait to view all of these locations personally. Thank you for sharing the historical information for each of these sites. I was captivated by everything you shared.
Mariana Caffaro Wood Thats on my list too. I had considered doing the pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela, but changed my mind. I will just go there directly and take in all it’s beauty without the arduous walk
I appreciate these travel videos of yours, James! Although I've been to Spain 3 times this decade, my one and only visit to Toledo was in 2011. My wife and I only did a day trip and we squeezed what we thought then were must sees in the 5 or 6 total hours we were there. Although we liked Toledo, now I wish we dug deeper and researched more. One more reason to go back to Spain... when the time comes that it's safe to travel.
Thanks a lot for the great video! I swept through Toledo one day, but never had a chance to look inside any building. Next time I'm in Madrid, I will definitely try to contact Diego:)
You can take also the train, which takes around 30 minutes (it takes more than twice as long in the car) and, unlike some of Renfe's AVE stations, the train station of Toledo is quite close to the city center (it's a 10 min. walk to the old city walls and a further 5-10 min. to the casco antiguo.
Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
Se llama Iglesia de San Román, y actualmente es el museo de los concilios y de la cultura visigoda. Fué Mezquita, pero anteriormente, por los restos encontrados, se cree que fue un importante edificio romano. Después de mezquita fue una basílica visigótica, y en el siglo XIII, se construyó en estilo mozárabe mudéjar toledano, la iglesia que ahora conocemos, y la que como he dicho al principio, ahora es un museo. Por cierto esta iglesia, era y es de mis favoritas, y no es muy conocida para el turista. Si algún día visitas mi ciudad, te recomiendo que vayas a verla. PD: Por cierto, hasta ahora, no había visto tú pregunta. Y la he visto, por volver a ver el video, que se lo estaba recomendando, a un conocido mío. Espero haberte ayudado.
I got married in Toledo October 2016. My husband is Spanish and I'm English. Our friends and family came together for our special day but also enjoyed a long weekend in Toledo. We live in Seseña province of Toledo x
Toledo is one of my favorite cities in Spain. If you visit Madrid, Toledo is a must for a day trip. It's only 1 hour by bus. Segovia also is great for a day trip from Madrid. I have nothing against Madrid but the better historical sites are in Toledo & Segovia. I spent a week in Madrid with only 2 day trips. I wish I spent a 2nd day in Toledo. I laughed at the end of the video when James accidentally pronounced Toledo as we in the U.S. pronounce Toledo, Ohio.
@@JuanCarlos1294 I don't know Avila but it would probably be a good place to stop on the way to Salamanca, which I hope to do some day. There are so many great places in Spain and I hope to visit most of them, eventually.
Bueno, como aquí se escribe indistintamente en inglés y en Toledo me gustaría contarte mi historia particular. Aprovechando una visita a mi hermana,que vive a cinco kilómetros de Toledo , me acerqué el 27 de junio con mi mujer al centro de la ciudad. Coincidió en la semana de reapertura de los monumentos y puntos de interés. Por aquel entonces se promovió una oferta durante una semana de completa gratuidad, por lo que pudimos disfrutar de la visita de la casa museo del Greco, las dos sinagogas, San Juan de los Reyes, la catedral, el taller del moro, San Salvador y San Román sin ningún tipo de coste. Fue una sensación extraña, con lo acostumbrado que estábamos a las hordas que suben y bajan de los autobuses, estar en todo momento sin apenas visitantes y con una completa comodidad No había nadie en torno a nosotros cuando paramos tanto en la Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca como en la del Tránsito. Espero que os agrade mi comentario, un saludo desde Sevilla.
Btw: do NOT book a ‘half day bus tour’ from Madrid to Toledo. It takes much longer than the train, and you are forced into tourist outlets in both directions. While the experience in Toledo was nice, we ended up being only 90 minutes in Toledo.
I’m from Toledo and I really pity the poor tourists trapped in these kind of tours. So yes, it’s better to stay away from that scam of frenetic city guide.
m e I am so prepared, I even wrote my own tourist app (Barcelona, more to come): https//attractions-map.com/en but that does not replace a good guide. I love a good mixture of enjoying a guide and doing prepared and unprepared walks on my own.
Thank you for this video. You have inspired us, so we are planning a trip to Toledo this fall. We live in Spain now but the pandemic put a hault to any travels as we all know. Thanks again and love your channel.
Toledo is a great place and I always put it at the top of the priority list when recommending things to do if people visit Madrid. You can get there in 20 minutes on the AVE train. The thing is, there is so much to see in Toledo that even a full day trip wont really suffice because you'll just end up rushing about and it takes a while to get your bearings - you will need a map from the tourist office. I'd recommend staying a few nights, if possible, because it's always nice to chill out in the evening in places like Toledo without worrying about the last train, etc. Toledo was the capital of Visigoth Spain and even today it feels like the spiritual capital of the country. It really is the last outpost of Northern Spain and everything south of it feels like the South. Great video James and all the recommendations are must see but I would also add El Greco's house, the Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo, and the church of Santo Tome (Islamic origin) for the spectacular El Greco painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.
Big fan of yours, but you would want to be more careful when handling history you are not familiar with. The sentence over the “invading Christians”, implying they did not allow for synagogues and mosques after snatching the city back from the Moors in the XI century, is plain silly. As for the “invading” peoples notion, you are in Mediterranean Europe, so it’s historically a cycle.
An excellent video about one of Spain's most visited cities, but from a different perspective. Usually we don't get the history in such detail. It is good to listen to someone who knows what he is talking about. Congratulations and I hope we get more of these videos. How refreshing that there was no food in this one.
I thought I might find you here Ray. Such a joy to have a bit of history minus the nutters. I wanted to tell you about that book I was reading. James will be interested too if he reads this. It's written by Robert White and titled 'A River In Spain - Discovering the Duero Valley in Old Castile', published by Tauris. It's a must read for anyone interested in the region, particularly if they, like us, enjoy visiting castles, Romanesque, Mozarab, Mudejar and Visigothic architecture. It's out of print but plenty of cheap, second hand, copies available. I'm proud to say I've been to much of the region and seen many out of the way things. There's so much of Spain that I enjoy but I have a particular attachment to this region and its history.
@@welshtoro3256 I have the book. I bought it years ago and it inspired me to follow the Douro valley starting in Valladolid all the way to Soria. I look at it all the time when I travel in that region. I didn't make it to the source of the Douro though and the so-called Black Lagoon. My favourite part of the Douro valley is the Castillo de Gormaz, which I have been to three times now. I never get tired of the view from up above. We've stayed in Berlanga de Duero four times, right on the small plaza next to the church and visited the nearby area. Berlanga has a huge castle, but most of it is in ruins. Have you been to the tiny village of Rello, south of Berlanga and southeast of Almazán? It is one of the smallest villages in Spain with fewer than 10 inhabitants and it lies perched on a mountain top. It is hard to tell what is the village and what is rock. You have probably visited Urueña, since you know the Valladolid region quite well. Unfortunately, with this virus, this is the first summer we haven't gone on our obligatory road trip. As for the nutters on that other site, I feel sorry for poor Stuart. He seems like a nice level-headed chap. But then he has decided to make his channel a news-on-the-virus channel and that brings out all the crazies. I am ashamed to say that I get caught up in the silly arguments with them.
This was fascinating and exactly what I love about the EU- the many layers of civilization. I am curious about the Cathedral for Ysabelle and Ferdinand. If she didn't like it, I am curious how quickly it was completed. The cathedrals took decades and more to build. Might she have been old and gray when she discovered that she didn't like it? Great video. Thank you!
Ok, now I have to go back to Toledo! So many amazing historical facts that you just don’t pay attention when you visit a place without a proper guide!! Thanks! Wonderful job!!
82k subscribers! Wow. I've been following you since you had like 8k so I'm glad that your channel is getting the audience it deserves Let's go for the 100k!
James great video of Toledo, my wife I visit Toledo last year and it’s a beautiful city. We can not til next year to visit Spain again..thanks for this Video😷
Fantastic video, James!!! As you already know for what I told on Facebook (yes, I am the same person) I live in Toledo since 1992 and I am absolutely in love with my city and especially with the old historical city and I really enjoyed all the sites you showed (I know myself some of them but not others) and appreciated that you wanted to show my city in your channel to the whole world!!! Only one thing, when you visited the cathedral you could have shown in the video the Arfe's custodia (the most beautiful and valuable treasure) which is taken out of the cathedral in procession around the old city during the Corpus Christi celebration
that's weird. I've spent a few days in Toledo as a tourist and never seen any of that ! The only thing s that the last train to Madrid on a Saturday night, the station platform can be a bit empty, which is weird.
You know, we would be able to experience so much beauty all around the world if people just stop the darn hatred and prejudice. If we helped each other to succeed and live in peace, how much richer and happy we will all be. I love that Spain didn't destroy these structures or tried to erase a culture...they embraced them. How amazing is that....
Wow! I have never been to Toledo, but now I must go. I will be not only on a walking tour, but walking to Toledo if all goes as planned from Corral de Almuguer and onward to Santiago. Thanks for making this video. I knew the city was impressive, but until someone points out the layers and stupendous art and sense of grandeur there, I really didn't fully grasp the breadth of the place. So, when I can return to Spain, I expect to walk through and take a few days to visit the places you noted in this video.
This is all so damn cool. Thanks for making this video. I've always been fascinated by all the cultures that contributed to what Spain has become, and this is a perfect illustration of that. It's wonderful, I can't wait for this pandemic to get under control so I can go visit Toledo.
I loved this video! Thanks, James and Diego! Twenty-one years ago, we made our first trip to Spain. This was before you could use the internet reliably and certainly not for booking. I called ahead from Córdoba to stay in the Hostal del Cardenal in Toledo because I’d read an article about it in our Canadian paper the Globe and Mail. We could not believe how beautiful it was. We’d never stayed in such a lovely place. We still have the cutlery be bought there: beautiful Toledo steel. It was in March and we stayed three nights in this wonderful city. I also bought some cuff links for a young student of mine, who had invited me to his bar-mitzvah. They had Damascene work with the Star of David, an unusual gift which he appreciated. Now, I wish I’d bought myself the gold earrings but at the time I thought I had too much jewellery! One can never have too much gold, especially the good stuff! 🌞
Jerez & the sherry wine trail: lots of interesting histories. The fenicias, the Romans the English influences. Plus the real flamenco that Yoli likes soo much..I’m looking forward. Love your passion
I was in Toledo when I was 17 . Despite being a teenager, I was amazed by the beauty of the city and all the history in every corner of it. I would love to come back one day
Naturaleza Salvaje My first time in Toledo was when I was 18 on a senior high school trip. I’ve been back 2 more times since I fell in love with Toledo at 18. Every time I’m in Madrid, I make sure to make a day trip to Toledo. I hope you make it back one day after Covid.
Excelente reportaje, es una suerte que toda esa belleza arquitectónica haya sobrevivido a los duros combates ocurridos durante la toma del Alcázar en la guerra civil española. Fue una batalla muy dura y aún quedan recuerdos de los combates por las calles de la ciudad.
Thanks for this video guys - we love your enthusiasm. When we can travel again I’ll definitely be looking up IndiDiego Jones for a tour 😀👍awesome cool dude 😎
Pasé un medio día en Toledo y no fue suficiente.... seguí para Segovia después, it’s not enough 😭 But this is super informative and now I know what to do next! Muchas gracias!
Apart from these magnificent sites, it is also worth to walk around the city and enjoy the view from a distance to get a great overview of Toledo. The cathedral was overwhelming and the mixture between the cultures is fascinating. I really loved Toledo!
Qué bien que has venido a mi ciudad!! La próxima vez tienes que visitar el Museo de brujería de Toledo, es muy interesante , te explican el tema de la brujería en la ciudad y como eran perseguidas por la iglesia y la Santa Inquisición española
I was a teacher in Toledo many years ago, and I will never forget the pleasure it was to walk every day from my house to Castillo de San Servando through the old city. Living there was a privilege.
Really exciting and beautiful city. The Toledo’s historical plenty is reflected in its buildings, its awesome architecture and its culture. I have to visit this gem one day. Thank you so much James for sharing with us.
I am a history buff. I visited Toledo back in 2012. Learned a lot at the time. But there is so much new I learned today. Why don't you make more of these Spanish history and historical architecture videos. It's amazing.
Its just not the same without Yoly. Only joking, another fabulous interesting video. Although not a believer, I love religious architecture and history and I cannot understand why I've never been to Toledo. Interestingly, just like in Toledo, in the UK after the reformation and under Oliver Cromwell, all the churches were stripped of their colours and paintings and left bare. I think we miss so much. One small point, if you will forgive me, the 8 sided structure in the monastery cannot have been a reference to the symbol for infinity as this wasn't invented until 1655. Sorry to be a pain.
Same as you Paul - not a believer but in the end religious art and architecture was the only outlet for artists back then so there are some astounding works. And THANK YOU for the infinity correction - love it! Glad to have learned that. Un abrazo
Many British churches survived intact after the puritans and the civil war. It's not well known but much of it was deliberately painted over during the Victorian period for a later puritanical aesthetic. The damp British weather didn't help either.
The opening scene where you see the church that was once a mosque that was once a Visigoth church that had a roman inscription on it. Where is this? Is it the San Roman Church? I'll be there in a few days and don't want to miss this. I went to Balonia a couple of summers ago and somehow didn't get to see the remains of the roman village near the beach. Please James where is this church?
WOW!!! What a city. I will definitely put this on my list of cities to visit in Spain. Thank you so much for showing us how beautiful Spain really is. I’ve only seen the Camino, but now I will venture out and explore, thanks to you!
Great video James. Used to have a friend who lived in Toledo so stayed there a couple of times. Totally changes in the evening when the day trippers leave. Great to see you have incorporated the "re-christianisation" process into your narrative (the discovery of statues from before the conquest.) One place you didn't include I think is a must is the Jesuit church (Santiago I think) where you can get up onto the roof for a bird's eye view of the city.
Love this place. After 2 months, I missed this historical city and decides to find serenity in this vlog. The insane war and moral decays today is overwhelming. If only the corrupted leaders are run by people of religiosity. But Satan had all the filthy leaders by the neck.
A great video James and what a shame I didn’t see any of these sites when in Toledo 28 years ago! I soaked up the atmosphere by walking the streets and laneways. Loved it. 💛
The only issue I have with this video is your choice of words around 5:20; “. . . It was converted to a church by the invading Christians.” Saying it like that leads people to believe that the Muslims were in Toledo first and totally negates the fact that Toledo was a Christian city that was originally invaded by the Muslims.
Toledo and Cordoba are my favorite places to visit in Spain. Thanks for this informative video. I've been to Toledo three times, and I didn't know about all these sites. Reason to go back!
I'll give the Rough Guide To Spain a plug here. The section on Toledo is very good and all these sights are recommended and others too. It's also very good for all visits out of Madrid. Don't worry about looking like a tourist with a guide book because we are tourists and you'll miss stuff. I love Cordoba as well.
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
I really enjoyed making this video! Toledo is so fascinating. What other historic Spanish cities should we make walking tours of? Let us know 👇🏽
Segovia!!! Definitely
Santiago de Compostela 🤗
You can't miss the whole jewish part of Segovia, including the Jewish cemetery, which is a jewel often missed by tourists, and try sephardic food (for example, el fogón sefardí)
Also, the Casa de la Moneda is worth visiting, and the templar temple Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
I love all of your videos...... It is how RUclips interferes with them..
I think an obvious city for the both of you would be Granada. There's tons to see, bags of history, amazing restaurants, and, of course, some decent flamenco and real flamenco history in the Sacramonte district. Here's another suggestion - Berlanga de Duero - it's pure Castile with some knockout sites and a very good restaurant.
Thank you James! I went on a tour of Toledo last year with Instituto Cervantes. Your tour with Diego brought back many fond memories of my time there especially Cristo de la Luz and the Cathedral 😍
That's Europe for you, every inch is drenched in history. Thank you again for this most entertaining video!
@Michael Lozano no, and its proved by the number of cultural unesco sites
@Michael Lozano Nah
@@mikelx191 the Americas and Africa have a rich history too. It's just a shame that the Europeans destroyed a lot of it. Oh and I wonder why the UNESCO sites tend to be concentrated in Europe... Could it be that it was started by and heavily influenced by Europeans? Oh the joys of colonization.
@@TwiinStar1224 la pajarita no es muy africana. También es europea. Y el traje también.. y más y más
Gracias James. Solo pasamos tres días en Toledo. Vamos a regresar!
Amazing!
They don't call it qibla but mihrab - a niche that indicates direction to pray for Muslims. It is supposed to point to Mecca but in Islamic Spain, just like in Cordoba, it was not so.
I was in Toledo just last fall and missed so much of this history that I see here in this beautiful naritive
12:00 It sucks that Napoleon's troops destroyed so many things during the peninsular war.
Also the Portuguese-Wellington army burned and destroyed more places too. Poor Spain, we've had so many wars...
I was born here and I'm really proud. I ❤️ Toledo 🏰🇪🇸
So cool! It’s amazing to see the rich history in Spain! What a fascinating country! Hope to be able to visit from the US someday after this pandemic is behind all of us.
Spain IS fascinating! Even if we Spaniards are soo critical about its history.
@@idemserra Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
Toledo has long been one of the most important places in the world to me. It is where I fully felt that Spain is my home (as much as a Jewish boy from Philadelphia can feel). And, as soon as we Americans can officially return to Spain, I will be heading back to Toledo to explore. James, your video showed me so many things that I did not know, I am so looking forward to touring with Diego's company and learning more about this incredible city. Thank you! And, btw, you also have me adding Cuenca to my go-to list as well. Well done, Kiwi.
Jeff, I feel like I'm a salesman for the Rough Guide but their Rough Guide To Spain has a very decent section on Toledo which is worth brushing up on before visiting. All the sights James goes too are mentioned and others. Reading the comments I'm genuinely surprised how many people visit places (I'm not trying to patronise) without knowing about the history and the sights. My wife is Spanish and we have been to Toledo many times. One thing that is not mentioned but we think is essential is to walk through the streets of the Jewish quarter of Toledo which is not around the synagogues. It's just cobbled streets and some old signs of the past. The historic atmosphere is palpable. You get that in Cordoba too (and its synagogue). Ubeda, in Andalucia, has also recently discovered a synagogue which is well worth visiting and so is the town as a Unesco sight which has a renaissance centre almost unique in Andalucia.
Welsh Toro, thank you for the reply. I have been to Ubeda. It is amazing
we will be looking forward to welcoming you to Toledo and Spain Jeff. If your ancestors lived in Sefarad, this will always be your home.
Toledo, the home of the inquisition, they still don't like us Jews there
Excellent video, good camera work, you are really good as a tv presenter James and a great ambassador for Spain.
I love your historical and food tours of Spain
I have been visiting Toledo for the past 5 decades and had missed many of these interesting details! You have definitely put Toledo under a new light; I will never see Toledo in the same way; you have made it young and vibrant again with new splashes of information. It is refreshing to see an adopted son of Spain speak with such "gusto" and passion for everything Spanish . KUDOS to you James ! Keep up the good work!
Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
@@DAn-ur8ik The places we visited in this video about Toledo are
1. The Roman Baths
2. San Román Church
3. Cristo de la Luz Mosque
4. Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue
5. San Juan de los Reyes Monastery
6. El Tránsito Synagogue
7. Saint Mary of Toledo Cathedral
My love for España 🇪🇸❤️❤️❤️. This city (Toledo) is really rich religious artifacts, history !!!
My husband and I were there at the end of February it was our last holiday together as he died suddenly in July.😥 Such a beautiful place with so much history.We live in Tenerife so I hope to visit again one day.Very interesting video.Thank you.
I traveled to Toledo years ago and loved the Toledo jewish quarters. Such a magical city overall. A trip to Spain is not complete without visiting Toledo.
My grand grand grand parents were living there 532 years ago.
I had researched several locations in Spain that I want to visit and Toledo is at the top of my list for my next visit. I had known about the high level of historical sites there, which immediately grabbed my interest and this video has confirmed my decision to go there as soon as I am able. I am in awe of everything that you have filmed. From experience, the beauty of these sites shown on video are more amazing when seen with your own eyes, so I can't wait to view all of these locations personally. Thank you for sharing the historical information for each of these sites. I was captivated by everything you shared.
So many people visit Toledo Gina and don't really get the full experience! That's how it was for me the first time!
Also, visit Santiago de Compostela
Mariana Caffaro Wood Thats on my list too. I had considered doing the pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela, but changed my mind. I will just go there directly and take in all it’s beauty without the arduous walk
mizgina522 you have to go going to love it
@@efriansantos6310 Definitivamente voy a ir y me quedaré varios días para disfrutar de todo
Toledo is one of my favorite cities of the world. There is so much to see there. I can't wait to go back there now thanks to this video.
Enjoy your next visit Liam!
I appreciate these travel videos of yours, James! Although I've been to Spain 3 times this decade, my one and only visit to Toledo was in 2011. My wife and I only did a day trip and we squeezed what we thought then were must sees in the 5 or 6 total hours we were there. Although we liked Toledo, now I wish we dug deeper and researched more. One more reason to go back to Spain... when the time comes that it's safe to travel.
Exactly - a reason to get back to Spain!
I'd really recommend getting the Rough Guide To Spain. It's very good for Toledo and all of Central Spain.
Thanks a lot for the great video! I swept through Toledo one day, but never had a chance to look inside any building. Next time I'm in Madrid, I will definitely try to contact Diego:)
Really do - he’s such an amazing guide
What a beautiful city and it’s even not that far away from Madrid, when I’m in Madrid next time I’ll definitely will include a Roadtrip to Toledo!
You can take also the train, which takes around 30 minutes (it takes more than twice as long in the car) and, unlike some of Renfe's AVE stations, the train station of Toledo is quite close to the city center (it's a 10 min. walk to the old city walls and a further 5-10 min. to the casco antiguo.
Gracias James, por enseñar mi ciudad. Excelente video y muy bien explicado, pero hay mucho más que ver. Por favor segunda parte de Toledo 🙏
Ole- buena idea!
Did you guys know what is the name of the first church that he presents on this video , the one that was a mosque and then a church but was before a visigothic church ?
Se llama Iglesia de San Román, y actualmente es el museo de los concilios y de la cultura visigoda.
Fué Mezquita, pero anteriormente, por los restos encontrados, se cree que fue un importante edificio romano. Después de mezquita fue una basílica visigótica, y en el siglo XIII, se construyó en estilo mozárabe mudéjar toledano, la iglesia que ahora conocemos, y la que como he dicho al principio, ahora es un museo. Por cierto esta iglesia, era y es de mis favoritas, y no es muy conocida para el turista. Si algún día visitas mi ciudad, te recomiendo que vayas a verla.
PD: Por cierto, hasta ahora, no había visto tú pregunta. Y la he visto, por volver a ver el video, que se lo estaba recomendando, a un conocido mío. Espero haberte ayudado.
I got married in Toledo October 2016. My husband is Spanish and I'm English. Our friends and family came together for our special day but also enjoyed a long weekend in Toledo. We live in Seseña province of Toledo x
Toledo is one of my favorite cities in Spain. If you visit Madrid, Toledo is a must for a day trip. It's only 1 hour by bus. Segovia also is great for a day trip from Madrid. I have nothing against Madrid but the better historical sites are in Toledo & Segovia. I spent a week in Madrid with only 2 day trips. I wish I spent a 2nd day in Toledo. I laughed at the end of the video when James accidentally pronounced Toledo as we in the U.S. pronounce Toledo, Ohio.
Hi. Do you know Ávila? It's near to Madrid too.
@@JuanCarlos1294 I don't know Avila but it would probably be a good place to stop on the way to Salamanca, which I hope to do some day. There are so many great places in Spain and I hope to visit most of them, eventually.
Bueno, como aquí se escribe indistintamente en inglés y en Toledo me gustaría contarte mi historia particular. Aprovechando una visita a mi hermana,que vive a cinco kilómetros de Toledo , me acerqué el 27 de junio con mi mujer al centro de la ciudad. Coincidió en la semana de reapertura de los monumentos y puntos de interés. Por aquel entonces se promovió una oferta durante una semana de completa gratuidad, por lo que pudimos disfrutar de la visita de la casa museo del Greco, las dos sinagogas, San Juan de los Reyes, la catedral, el taller del moro, San Salvador y San Román sin ningún tipo de coste. Fue una sensación extraña, con lo acostumbrado que estábamos a las hordas que suben y bajan de los autobuses, estar en todo momento sin apenas visitantes y con una completa comodidad No había nadie en torno a nosotros cuando paramos tanto en la Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca como en la del Tránsito.
Espero que os agrade mi comentario, un saludo desde Sevilla.
I have visited once and want to see more. Your tour has really added to my desire to return and discover more. It is an amazing city. 🇨🇦 ♥️ 🇪🇸
Definitivamente Toledo es una ciudad para visitar por dentro de los edificios. Gran vídeo.
¿Invading Christians? Come on.
Btw: do NOT book a ‘half day bus tour’ from Madrid to Toledo. It takes much longer than the train, and you are forced into tourist outlets in both directions.
While the experience in Toledo was nice, we ended up being only 90 minutes in Toledo.
I’m from Toledo and I really pity the poor tourists trapped in these kind of tours. So yes, it’s better to stay away from that scam of frenetic city guide.
I don't book tours. I find it's better to do my own research prior to the trip and bring along a list of things I want to see and a good walking map.
m e I am so prepared, I even wrote my own tourist app (Barcelona, more to come): https//attractions-map.com/en but that does not replace a good guide. I love a good mixture of enjoying a guide and doing prepared and unprepared walks on my own.
Thank you for this video. You have inspired us, so we are planning a trip to Toledo this fall. We live in Spain now but the pandemic put a hault to any travels as we all know. Thanks again and love your channel.
Toledo is a great place and I always put it at the top of the priority list when recommending things to do if people visit Madrid. You can get there in 20 minutes on the AVE train. The thing is, there is so much to see in Toledo that even a full day trip wont really suffice because you'll just end up rushing about and it takes a while to get your bearings - you will need a map from the tourist office. I'd recommend staying a few nights, if possible, because it's always nice to chill out in the evening in places like Toledo without worrying about the last train, etc. Toledo was the capital of Visigoth Spain and even today it feels like the spiritual capital of the country. It really is the last outpost of Northern Spain and everything south of it feels like the South. Great video James and all the recommendations are must see but I would also add El Greco's house, the Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo, and the church of Santo Tome (Islamic origin) for the spectacular El Greco painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.
Thanks mate. I totally agree that you need time. I hate rushing for the last train. And have noted those other spots for the future!
Big fan of yours, but you would want to be more careful when handling history you are not familiar with. The sentence over the “invading Christians”, implying they did not allow for synagogues and mosques after snatching the city back from the Moors in the XI century, is plain silly. As for the “invading” peoples notion, you are in Mediterranean Europe, so it’s historically a cycle.
Me gusta este video esta bien editado y los diálogos son buenos. Me gusta también tu acento y aprendo ingles viendo tus videos. Gracias
Spain is the only country that re-conquered an Islamic kingdom.
An excellent video about one of Spain's most visited cities, but from a different perspective. Usually we don't get the history in such detail. It is good to listen to someone who knows what he is talking about. Congratulations and I hope we get more of these videos. How refreshing that there was no food in this one.
Thanks Ray! Yep - would love to do more of these :)
I thought I might find you here Ray. Such a joy to have a bit of history minus the nutters. I wanted to tell you about that book I was reading. James will be interested too if he reads this. It's written by Robert White and titled 'A River In Spain - Discovering the Duero Valley in Old Castile', published by Tauris. It's a must read for anyone interested in the region, particularly if they, like us, enjoy visiting castles, Romanesque, Mozarab, Mudejar and Visigothic architecture. It's out of print but plenty of cheap, second hand, copies available. I'm proud to say I've been to much of the region and seen many out of the way things. There's so much of Spain that I enjoy but I have a particular attachment to this region and its history.
@@welshtoro3256 I have the book. I bought it years ago and it inspired me to follow the Douro valley starting in Valladolid all the way to Soria. I look at it all the time when I travel in that region. I didn't make it to the source of the Douro though and the so-called Black Lagoon. My favourite part of the Douro valley is the Castillo de Gormaz, which I have been to three times now. I never get tired of the view from up above. We've stayed in Berlanga de Duero four times, right on the small plaza next to the church and visited the nearby area. Berlanga has a huge castle, but most of it is in ruins. Have you been to the tiny village of Rello, south of Berlanga and southeast of Almazán? It is one of the smallest villages in Spain with fewer than 10 inhabitants and it lies perched on a mountain top. It is hard to tell what is the village and what is rock. You have probably visited Urueña, since you know the Valladolid region quite well. Unfortunately, with this virus, this is the first summer we haven't gone on our obligatory road trip. As for the nutters on that other site, I feel sorry for poor Stuart. He seems like a nice level-headed chap. But then he has decided to make his channel a news-on-the-virus channel and that brings out all the crazies. I am ashamed to say that I get caught up in the silly arguments with them.
This was fascinating and exactly what I love about the EU- the many layers of civilization. I am curious about the Cathedral for Ysabelle and Ferdinand. If she didn't like it, I am curious how quickly it was completed. The cathedrals took decades and more to build. Might she have been old and gray when she discovered that she didn't like it? Great video. Thank you!
4:38 Allah means god, Christians follow allah and it’s written in all Arabic bibles. It’s not a muslim god only.
Jus sayin 🥶
Was in Toledo December last year to visit a friend. I was just speechless seeing amazing architecture.
Ok, now I have to go back to Toledo! So many amazing historical facts that you just don’t pay attention when you visit a place without a proper guide!! Thanks! Wonderful job!!
A great guide is key!
The Rough Guide to Spain book has a very good section on Toledo which recommends all of these sights. It's a very good book for the interior of Spain.
82k subscribers! Wow. I've been following you since you had like 8k so I'm glad that your channel is getting the audience it deserves
Let's go for the 100k!
James great video of Toledo, my wife I visit Toledo last year and it’s a beautiful city. We can not til next year to visit Spain again..thanks for this Video😷
this is def one of your top 5 videos . Thumbs up if you agree!
Fantastic video, James!!! As you already know for what I told on Facebook (yes, I am the same person) I live in Toledo since 1992 and I am absolutely in love with my city and especially with the old historical city and I really enjoyed all the sites you showed (I know myself some of them but not others) and appreciated that you wanted to show my city in your channel to the whole world!!! Only one thing, when you visited the cathedral you could have shown in the video the Arfe's custodia (the most beautiful and valuable treasure) which is taken out of the cathedral in procession around the old city during the Corpus Christi celebration
Cheers Albert - and thank you for that tip! Will check it out next time
that's weird. I've spent a few days in Toledo as a tourist and never seen any of that ! The only thing s that the last train to Madrid on a Saturday night, the station platform can be a bit empty, which is weird.
I hope you can get back Dave :)
You know, we would be able to experience so much beauty all around the world if people just stop the darn hatred and prejudice. If we helped each other to succeed and live in peace, how much richer and happy we will all be. I love that Spain didn't destroy these structures or tried to erase a culture...they embraced them. How amazing is that....
Wow! I have never been to Toledo, but now I must go. I will be not only on a walking tour, but walking to Toledo if all goes as planned from Corral de Almuguer and onward to Santiago. Thanks for making this video. I knew the city was impressive, but until someone points out the layers and stupendous art and sense of grandeur there, I really didn't fully grasp the breadth of the place. So, when I can return to Spain, I expect to walk through and take a few days to visit the places you noted in this video.
Yeah, it's a remarkable city -- I totally missed it the first few times I visited
Thank you so much for sharing this. The layers of history are mind-blowing.
Awesome video. I felt like I was watching 'Ultimate Toledo' hosted by James Blick on BBC. Fascinating information. Thanks for a brilliant video!
Shucks! Do you know a producer there jeje
This is all so damn cool. Thanks for making this video. I've always been fascinated by all the cultures that contributed to what Spain has become, and this is a perfect illustration of that. It's wonderful, I can't wait for this pandemic to get under control so I can go visit Toledo.
I loved this video! Thanks, James and Diego! Twenty-one years ago, we made our first trip to Spain. This was before you could use the internet reliably and certainly not for booking. I called ahead from Córdoba to stay in the Hostal del Cardenal in Toledo because I’d read an article about it in our Canadian paper the Globe and Mail. We could not believe how beautiful it was. We’d never stayed in such a lovely place. We still have the cutlery be bought there: beautiful Toledo steel. It was in March and we stayed three nights in this wonderful city. I also bought some cuff links for a young student of mine, who had invited me to his bar-mitzvah. They had Damascene work with the Star of David, an unusual gift which he appreciated. Now, I wish I’d bought myself the gold earrings but at the time I thought I had too much jewellery! One can never have too much gold, especially the good stuff! 🌞
We’ve visited Toledo in 2009 and 2015. This video rekindled so many emotions. Thanks for this James, can’t wait to come back. ❤️
Jerez & the sherry wine trail: lots of interesting histories. The fenicias, the Romans the English influences.
Plus the real flamenco that Yoli likes soo much..I’m looking forward.
Love your passion
That was amazing James! We definitely need to go back and see Toledo. 👍🏻
I was in Toledo when I was 17 . Despite being a teenager, I was amazed by the beauty of the city and all the history in every corner of it. I would love to come back one day
Naturaleza Salvaje My first time in Toledo was when I was 18 on a senior high school trip. I’ve been back 2 more times since I fell in love with Toledo at 18. Every time I’m in Madrid, I make sure to make a day trip to Toledo. I hope you make it back one day after Covid.
The night tour around the city and the cathedral tour in Burgos, are two beautiful and instructive in Spanish History experiences!
Hey when i go to toledo will look for dieego!!!
Excelente reportaje, es una suerte que toda esa belleza arquitectónica haya sobrevivido a los duros combates ocurridos durante la toma del Alcázar en la guerra civil española. Fue una batalla muy dura y aún quedan recuerdos de los combates por las calles de la ciudad.
Hello from Dublin , fantastic tour of Toledo. Thank you ☘️
Cheers Brian!
Wish we had watched this before our trip this past February. We only had one day there and it was no where near enough time!
Thank you, James for this excellent video! Now want to visit Toledo once again! Loads of new information! Great stuff!
Thanks for this video guys - we love your enthusiasm. When we can travel again I’ll definitely be looking up IndiDiego Jones for a tour 😀👍awesome cool dude 😎
Pasé un medio día en Toledo y no fue suficiente.... seguí para Segovia después, it’s not enough 😭
But this is super informative and now I know what to do next! Muchas gracias!
Beautiful camera work James 👍
Apart from these magnificent sites, it is also worth to walk around the city and enjoy the view from a distance to get a great overview of Toledo.
The cathedral was overwhelming and the mixture between the cultures is fascinating. I really loved Toledo!
ToLeto is really beautiful and amazing spilling over with defined craftsmanship and architecture, Thank you James and Diego.
Qué bien que has venido a mi ciudad!! La próxima vez tienes que visitar el Museo de brujería de Toledo, es muy interesante , te explican el tema de la brujería en la ciudad y como eran perseguidas por la iglesia y la Santa Inquisición española
Thanks for this video! Very educational! Can't wait for the next vlog 😍
I was a teacher in Toledo many years ago, and I will never forget the pleasure it was to walk every day from my house to Castillo de San Servando through the old city. Living there was a privilege.
I was in Toledo last February! This made me miss Spain so much!! So nice seeing everything again through your video :)
Really exciting and beautiful city. The Toledo’s historical plenty is reflected in its buildings, its awesome architecture and its culture. I have to visit this gem one day. Thank you so much James for sharing with us.
What, no visit to a forge? Toledo is know for their steel, swords and knives.
That was largely in the past. Most of the stuff these days are trinkets for tourists.
James, you never disappoint. Thank you. This was a great video. Always appreciate the history lessons.
Shaping history! It’s the truth
I am a history buff. I visited Toledo back in 2012. Learned a lot at the time. But there is so much new I learned today. Why don't you make more of these Spanish history and historical architecture videos. It's amazing.
Allah in Arabic means " the God" . Even Jesus called God ," Allaha" in Aramaic. So its not weird to find Allah in churches in 14th century
Its just not the same without Yoly. Only joking, another fabulous interesting video.
Although not a believer, I love religious architecture and history and I cannot understand why I've never been to Toledo. Interestingly, just like in Toledo, in the UK after the reformation and under Oliver Cromwell, all the churches were stripped of their colours and paintings and left bare. I think we miss so much.
One small point, if you will forgive me, the 8 sided structure in the monastery cannot have been a reference to the symbol for infinity as this wasn't invented until 1655. Sorry to be a pain.
Same as you Paul - not a believer but in the end religious art and architecture was the only outlet for artists back then so there are some astounding works. And THANK YOU for the infinity correction - love it! Glad to have learned that. Un abrazo
@@spainrevealed Cheers James. I'm always nervous about being pedantic 😁. hugs back
Many British churches survived intact after the puritans and the civil war. It's not well known but much of it was deliberately painted over during the Victorian period for a later puritanical aesthetic. The damp British weather didn't help either.
@@welshtoro3256 I didn't know that, thank you. You're right about the weather though 😁
The opening scene where you see the church that was once a mosque that was once a Visigoth church that had a roman inscription on it. Where is this? Is it the San Roman Church? I'll be there in a few days and don't want to miss this. I went to Balonia a couple of summers ago and somehow didn't get to see the remains of the roman village near the beach. Please James where is this church?
WOW!!! What a city. I will definitely put this on my list of cities to visit in Spain. Thank you so much for showing us how beautiful Spain really is. I’ve only seen the Camino, but now I will venture out and explore, thanks to you!
Great video James. Used to have a friend who lived in Toledo so stayed there a couple of times. Totally changes in the evening when the day trippers leave.
Great to see you have incorporated the "re-christianisation" process into your narrative (the discovery of statues from before the conquest.)
One place you didn't include I think is a must is the Jesuit church (Santiago I think) where you can get up onto the roof for a bird's eye view of the city.
San Ildefonso.
visiting today
Love this place. After 2 months, I missed this historical city and decides to find serenity in this vlog. The insane war and moral decays today is overwhelming. If only the corrupted leaders are run by people of religiosity. But Satan had all the filthy leaders by the neck.
A great video James and what a shame I didn’t see any of these sites when in Toledo 28 years ago! I soaked up the atmosphere by walking the streets and laneways. Loved it. 💛
Is a city unique, with more history, the city where invent of mazapán, in english lenguage marzipan. The ancient capital of Spain.
The only issue I have with this video is your choice of words around 5:20; “. . . It was converted to a church by the invading Christians.” Saying it like that leads people to believe that the Muslims were in Toledo first and totally negates the fact that Toledo was a Christian city that was originally invaded by the Muslims.
Is it just me or Diego sounds like Lord Varys when speaks :) anyways looking forward to my Toledo trip. Thanks for this!
Another good interesting video
Thank you again. Another amazingly informative video. I can't wait to see these sites in person. Great inspiration.
Hi James … thanks for your guidance.. loved the city of Toledo !!
I love your channel
Toledo and Cordoba are my favorite places to visit in Spain. Thanks for this informative video. I've been to Toledo three times, and I didn't know about all these sites. Reason to go back!
I'll give the Rough Guide To Spain a plug here. The section on Toledo is very good and all these sights are recommended and others too. It's also very good for all visits out of Madrid. Don't worry about looking like a tourist with a guide book because we are tourists and you'll miss stuff. I love Cordoba as well.
Visigoths
What is the name of the church you talked about in the opening of you video? Was that the Saint Mary of Toledo?
Avila!
It has probably posted here already but what is the way to get to Toledo from Madrid? Thank you!
¿Dónde está la iglesia del principio? El vídeo es de lo mejor que he visto sobre Toledo
what a mysterious place. can't wait to visit this mystical place!
Roman, Muslim, Christian, Judaism..what a combo all in one wall.
We are visiting Madrid next month and plan to do one day tour of Toledo. Your video is fantastic to help plan our day in Toledo
Ooohhh i same really fascinating toledo i will go to hollidays next year. Tnaks for the video
We were in Toledo in August 2022. I wish that I had seen this video before we went.