Spain & Portugal Travel Part I: Toledo
Spain & Portugal Travel Part I: Long Travel to Spain and Toledo Visit
Spain and Portugal have many interesting historical places that are now designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Places of Visit
My wife and I together with 22 people from my country, Malaysia, went to Spain and Portugal to visit some of their historical landmarks from 22 Oct 2018 until 2 November 2018.
Writer and Wife
Tour Group from Malaysia
We would begin our tour from Toledo and end at Barcelona, as shown in the map below.
Map showing the places the tour group would visit
A Brief History of Spain
Spain was ruled by the Romans in around 200 BCE. Subsequently, she was ruled by the Christian Germanic tribal confederations, Visigoths, then the Muslim Moors from North Africa in 7th. century and Christians again in the 15th. century.
King Ferdinand III, a Holy Roman Catholic monarch, recaptured Spain from the Muslims in 1492. The country became a republic in 1873 when the last monarch, King Amadeo I(1845-1890), abdicated his throne.
47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain
Spain was ruled by different kingdoms in the past and many places and buildings left behind have become UNESCO world heritage sites totalling about 47.
Long Travel to Spain from Malaysia
Day 1 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 Air Flight
On the first day of our travel to Spain, we flew from KLIA, Malaysia, to Madrid in Spain via Bangkok(Thailand) and Amman(Jordan) on Royal Jordanian airlines.
Flight from KLIA to Bangkok(2 hrs 10 mins)
Flight from Bangkok to Amman(9 hrs 20 mins)
Flight from Bangkok to Amman on 23 Oct 2018
Flight from Amman to Madrid(4 hrs 30 mins)
Jeff Lee, a tour manager of Golden Destinations
Jeff Lee, a tour manager of Golden Destinations Travel Agency(Kuala Lumpur), took care of us during the whole tour as shown in the photo below.
Jeff Lee, tour manager of Golden Destinations
Tue, 23 Oct 2018 Arrival at Madrid, Spain
After a long, tiring journey that took almost a whole day from Malaysia, we finally reached Madrid international airport known as Madrid-Berajas Airport on the second day, Tue, 23 Oct 2018.
At the airport, we boarded a dark orange coach. Then Sergio, a Spanish driver, drove all of us to a small town, Segovia, which is about 90 km north-west of Madrid.
Sergio, a Spanish coach driver
Hotel Puerta de Segovia
On arrival at Segovia, we checked in and rested for a night at a hotel, Hotel Puerta de Segovia. We would begin our Spain-Portugal tour on the following day.
Hotel Puerta de Segovia
Day 3 Wed, 24 Oct 2018
Toledo and Madrid
On this day, we would begin our long-awaited tour in Spain and Portugal.
We would visit Toledo first and then Madrid on the same day.
In the morning, my wife and I had a hearty breakfast at Hotel Puerta de Segovia, our first breakfast in Spain. After breakfast, we and others travelled by coach from the hotel to the former capital of Spain, Toledo, which is located 157 km south-west of Segovia and the journey would take 2 hours.
Writer’s Breakfast
Wife’s Breakfast
Berta, a Toledo tour-guide
On arrival at Toledo, a Spanish guide, Berta, joined us and brought us round to see the landmarks in the old town of Toledo.
Berta, a Toledo tour-guide
Toledo
Toledo is a quaint and charming town in a hilly area. It is known as the “City of Three Cultures” due to the cultural influences of the Christians, Muslims and Jews in the past.
Map showing the location of Toledo
While travelling on a hill in Toledo, we saw the picturesque old town of Toledo on another hill separated by a river, River Tagus.
Alcazar of Toledo
On top of the hill is the Alcazar of Toledo which is a majestic looking fortress on the highest hill in Toledo.
It was used as a Roman palace in the 3rd. Century, restored by a Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, and his son in the 1540s, and rebuilt between 1939 and 1957.
Now, it houses the regional library and military museum.
Alcazar of Toledo
Alcantara Bridge
To enter the old Toledo town, we crossed a bridge over River Tagus. The bridge known as Alcantara Bridge was built between 104 and 106 A.D. by the Romans.
A medieval castle, Castle of San Servando, located on a hill near the bridge was founded in the 7th. Century.
Alcantara Bridge
Castle of San Servando
Wall and Gates
Toledo was surrounded by a wall in the olden days to prevent sudden attack by invaders. Now some parts of the wall and two stone gates remain as monuments.
Wall Round Toledo
Stone Gate to Alcazar of Toledo
This massive stone-gate is an entrance to Alcazar of Toledo. a fortress on the highest hill in Toledo.
Stone Gate in Toledo
Alcazar of Toledo
Narrow Old Streets and Squares
When we were in the old town of Toledo, we walked along narrow old streets. We stopped when we came across some ancient cathedrals.
Narrow Old Street
Souvenir Shops
A Lot of Walking
We walked a lot in the town and sometimes took opportunity to rest for a short while, like these two good, old friends, Roland and Voon, from Sarawak did as shown in the photo below.
Resting in a Toledo Narrow Street
Zocodover Square
While going to Toledo Cathedral, we stopped for a moment at an open-air space known as Zocodover Square.
In the olden days, it was a busy market place and a place for public execution of prisoners. Now, it is a place where important social and political activities take place.
Zocodover Square
Toledo Cathedral
Then we continued walking to a cathedral, Toledo Cathedral, near the square. It is a famous cathedral and the largest in Toledo. It is also known as “Primate Cathedral of St. Mary of Toledo”.
Built in Gothic architectural style, it is a Roman Catholic church that was constructed in 1223 and completed in 1493.
Toledo Cathedral
Facade of Toledo Cathedral
City Council of Toledo Building
On the way to another church, Church of Santo Tome, we were attracted by a charming building with two towers in Baroque style. Besides, it looks symmetrical.
It was constructed from 1575 until 1793 with lots of problems. It is now the seat of the city council of Toledo.
City Council of Toledo
Church of Santo Tome
Then we visited another church known as Church of Santo Tome.
While waiting to enter the church, we were amused by an old, Spanish lady-busker dramatising a play “Don Quxiote” in front of the church. Some generous passers-by donated her some money.
A Lady-Busker
Painting of “The Burial of Count Orfaz”
When we entered the church, we saw a famous painting on a wall, “The Burial of Count Orfaz”. It was painted by El Greco(1541-1614), a Greek Spaniard, who was a painter, sculptor and architect.
Church of Santo Tome
Details of “The Burial of Count Orgaz”
This painting shows heaven on the upper painting and earth on the lower painting.
The heaven shows Mary and John the Baptist gathering at Christ’s feet, whereas the earth shows Saints Augustine and Stephen lowering the body of Count Orgaz into a tomb. Christ was watching and going to judge Count Orgaz’s soul.
El Greco’s famous painting
Count Orgaz
Count Orgaz was a native of Orgaz. When he passed away in 1312, he gave away a large sum of money to Santo Tomes Church and wished to be buried in the church.
According to the legend, two saints, Augustine and Stephen, came down from heaven and buried Count Orgaz in the church.
The church commissioned El Greco to paint a picture in the church showing the burial of Count Orgaz. El Greco finished painting it on a wall in the church in 1586. Art scholars consider it as a masterpiece of Western Art and late Mannerism.
Portrait of El Greco(1541-1614)
Back of the Church of Santo Tome
Toledo Escalators
Later, we went to the top of a Toledo hill by escalators.
The escalators are constructed in six parts in a zig-zag manner totaling 100 metres long. They help tourists to gain a height of 36 metres to reach the hill-top to see the breathtaking view of the new town of Toledo in the distance.
Escalator to the hill-top
Panoramic view of the new town of Toledo
Lunch Time
After a short tour of the old town of Toledo, we went to a restaurant, Restaurante Ciggaral Monte Rey, that perched on a high ground in Toledo old town for lunch.
A Toledo Restaurant
Tour group having lunch in Toledo
Some Dishes Served in the Restaurant
Fried Rice with Seafood
Bread with Cheese, etc.
Two Objects at the Restaurant
At Restarante Ciggaral Monte Rey, two objects attracted my attention as shown in the photos below.
Medieval Armours
In olden days, medieval armours were made of metal and used by soldiers to protect their bodies.
The armours at the restaurant looked heavy. The poor soldiers in ancient times had to wear them for protection during wars.
Medieval Armours
Coat of Arms of Toledo
A carved wooden Coat of Arms of Toledo was on a wall of the restaurant.
Coat of Arms of Toledo
Next Destination
After a sumptuous lunch, we travelled to the capital of Spain, Madrid, which is 73 km north-east of Toledo(Time taken: 1 hour). On arrival in Madrid we visited some heritage sites.
Places visited during Spain & Portugal Tour(22 Oct-02 Nov 2018):
Toledo Madrid Salamanca Porto Lisbon Seville Cordobo Granada Valencia Barcelona
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