Toledo, Spain — Among the places I have visited in Spain, Toledo stands out as one of the most magical. The small city is known to be the city of three cultures – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (meaning it’s a rare city where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived and co-existed together). With this interesting fact alone, I thought that a day trip to Toledo would be great.

Because of it’s close proximity to Madrid, (Toledo is located just south of Madrid), Toledo makes a wonderful day trip. I was walking around Madrid during my ,3rd day in the city when I saw someone offering a day tour to Toledo. The nosy travel enthusiast in me immediately googled Toledo up and took note how to get there from Madrid. Next thing I know, I was already inside a Toledo bound train. How I love spontaneous trips!

While seated on the train going to Toledo, I researched a bit and I was excited to learn that there are a lot of landmarks to see — from impressive cathedrals, monasteries, temples, to ancient roads all reflective of the rich Spanish history. After almost an hour, I arrived at Toledo’s train station.

I walked my way into Toledo’s historical center, where I saw a lot of impressive monuments like the Alcázar, El Transito Synagogue, and the Church of Santo Tomé. After just an hour or so of sauntering around its old town center, I walready understood why it has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning monuments from various eras, the Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish influences all make Toledo culturally rich and beautiful.

One of the highlights is definitely the visit to the Toledo Cathedral, a magnificent display of Gothic architecture. I’ve learned that he city is the seat of a powerful archdiocese for much of its history. The Catedral Primada de España (“The Primate Cathedral of Spain”) is betond stunning especially inside it. I was all smiles walking around Toledo, it’s as if the old town is essentially a huge museum to enjoy!

Toledo also has a a long history in the production of bladed weapons, which are now common souvenirs of the city. So make sure to pick up a few treasures like the Toledan sword, or even the damascene — Toledo’s traditional jewelry.

Then, take a trip back in time to the medieval Jewish Quarter. If you love art, a stop at the El Greco Museum is well worth it.

Aside from Spain’s tapas, whenever one is feeling hungry, go grab a ham sandwich that’s made with Spain’s legendary Jamón ibérico, from any of the charcuteries/cafes and shops near the Plaza de Zocodover. Then make sure you get to taste their famous marzipan.

This brief visit to Toledo made me love Spain even more. It made me have a better understanding as to why Toledo is considered an important cultural center in Spain. Take it easy.