Toledo. 70km south of Madrid. Location of "La Convivencia ("the Coexistence"), where Jews lived together in relative peace with Muslims and Catholics for over 750 years (711 to 1492). It was established under the Islamic rule of the Caliphate of Cordoba and ended when the Catholic monarchs issued the Alhambra Decree which ordered the expulsion of Jews from Spain. The skyline is distinguished by the Alcázar on the right, and the peak of the Cathedral in the middle.
Toledo was world-renouned for its superior production of iron and steel swords, that were so extraordinary hard that they would break other swords in combat. Even some Japanese warlords came all the way to Toledo to have their katanas and wakizashis forged there.
Toledo
Toledo - the streets were built tall and narrow to keep cool in the extreme summer heat. They provided shade and wind channels for cooler breezes to pass through.
Toledo - St Maria La Blanca synagogue - wood paneling on the front doors. Erected in 1180, it is the oldest synagogue building in Europe that is still standing, now owned by the Catholic Church.
Toledo - Santa Maria la Blanca (pic by Manuel Trujillo Berges). It was built by Islamic architects for Jewish use on Christian land. They of course built it in their traditional Moorish (Almohad) style. It doesn't have any Hebrew writing or Jewish markings anywhere, and looks unlike any synagogue I've ever seen.
Toledo - Alcázar of Toledo. Stone fortification on the highest point of the city, originally built as a Roman palace in the 3rd century. It was a pivotal front in the Spanish Civil War, where Franco's forces took refuge in 1936 and survived a brutal 2-month bombardment where the building was almost completely destroyed.
Toledo - Holy Church Cathedral. Construction started in 1227 over the foundations of a Visigoth cathedral that had been used as a mosque.
Toledo - Holy Church Cathedral. Main construction took over 250 years, ending in 1493. But inside, parts have been remodeled and great artists have added contributions as recently as the 18th century.
Toledo - Puerta del reloj (Clock Door)
Toledo - Puerta del reloj (Clock Door) - detail of the tympanum over the door, depicting scenes from the life of Christ
Toledo - Puerta del reloj (Clock Door) - ironwork detail on he door
Toledo - Puerta del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness). The center of the three main doors, along with the Puerta del Juicio Final (Door of the Last Judgment, to the right) and Puerta del Infierno (the Door of Hell, to the left).
Toledo - Door of the Lions - sculpture detail
Toledo - Door of the Lions - lion sculpture
Toledo - a Cathedral sculpture made of marzipan
Toledo - Church of Santo Tome - an unassuming church that happens to house El Greco's masterpiece: The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (creative commons)
Toledo - known for its marzipan
Toledo - fun with Don Quijote
Toledo - fun with Sancho Panza
Toledo - looking down into the old Roman ruins
Toledo - catacombs from the Roman empire
La Parcela Gonzalez - la huerta (the vegetable garden)
Chinchón - Plaza mayor - anisette produced in the village with a very high alcohol content. One of the biggest annual events is the ”Chinchón Festival de anis y vino” (festival of anisette and wine).
Chinchón - Plaza mayor - build in the 15-16th century below the medieval castle.
La Parcela Gonzalez - Sammy behind bars
La Parcela Gonzalez - Sammy, jailbird (er, jailpuppy)
La Parcela Gonzalez - Sammy, free at last
La Parcela Gonzalez - Marta on the front steps
La Parcela Gonzalez - backyard barbecue. From top left: pisto (mix of Spanish veggies in a tomato base), chorizo criollos (creole sausages), guacamole (Mexico-style - made by Marta), empanada gallega de atun (tunafish in baked pastry dough), tortilla de patata (potato omelette), and cerveza (beer)
La Parcela Gonzalez - family barbecue on the backyard patio
La Parcela Gonzalez - sunset
La Parcela Gonzalez - dusk
La Parcela Gonzalez - moon over Madrid
