Toledo Half-Day Tour with Cathedral and Synagogue
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Toledo's historic Cathedral
- Discover the art of El Greco at St. Tome Church
- Visit the Synagogue of El Transito
- Stroll through Toledo's medieval streets
- Learn about Toledo's rich cultural heritage
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Toledo's Cathedral
- Visit to St. Tome Church
- Entry to the Synagogue of El Transito
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Before it was an Arab market and until a few years ago there was a street market called "popularly" on Tuesday, it was Enrique IV who granted Toledo a market every Tuesday, a tradition that comes from far away and is currently held in the Parque de la Vega. Zocodover comes from Arabic, it means market of the beasts, and this square was also used to publicly execute the condemned.
The church of Santo Tomé or Santo Tomás Apóstol is located in the historic center of the Spanish city of Toledo, and was founded after the reconquest of this city by King Alfonso VI de León.1 It appears cited in the twelfth century , as built on the site of an old 11th century mosque.2 This mosque, together with others from the city, were used as Christian churches without major changes, since no buildings were destroyed in the capture of the city. However, at the beginning of the fourteenth century, due to being in a dilapidated state, it was completely rebuilt by Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, Lord of Orgaz, and the old minaret of the mosque was transformed into a bell tower in Mudejar style.3 Its fame is due to all for housing inside, the painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz by El Greco, which can be seen by accessing the back of the church.
Beyond its concrete historical and artistic value, the Cathedral Church has a value and a theological significance as a reference for the pastoral life of the whole diocese, for priests and for the lay faithful. In addition, the cathedrals have been the forge place of our Western and European culture; they were the embryo of the current universities, they anticipated welfare work and they were art workshops. Today the cathedrals are witnesses of that culture and message of transcendence and values for the people of today.
Santa María la Blanca is a temple located in the Spanish city of Toledo. Built in 1180 as a synagogue and, having functioned as such for 211 years, it was expropriated and transformed into a church as a result of the pogrom of 1391. At present the building belongs to the Catholic Church, but there is no cult in it. It is open to the public and functions as a museum or center where both cultural and educational activities take place.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Confirm the meeting point and time upon booking.
- Be aware of any local holidays that might affect opening hours.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning architecture.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Infant seats available for children over 1 year old. Children under 1 year old must sit on laps.
Traveler reviews
Toledo Part Day Tour
Our tour was very knowledgable, accommodating and had a lovely personality. Toledo was well worth the time to visit it.
Perfect day trip
Thought the timing of the trip and schedule was the perfect amount of sight seeing and free time. Our guide was super knowledgeable about the history and sights.
Excellent
Beatrice & Israel were fabulous tour guides & driver. The trip was so informative, interesting and fun. We would definitely recommend.
Toledo is beautiful, so...
Toledo is beautiful, so much history to see and experience. I did the half day trip which was wonderful, but the cathedral isn't a part of this due to so much else to see. While I recommend the half day, to see the cathedral with the full day tour would have been even better.
This is an 8 hour trip...
This is an 8 hour trip but was advertised as 5.5 hours. Travelers should know there is a lot of waking. There isn’t a lot of free time other than the lunch hour but an hour for lunch was sufficient time to eat. The earphones and listening device provided was great to hear the tour guide throughout the tour. Very informative about synagogue and cathedral. My 15 year old liked it too.
