A Day in the Timeless City of Toledo!

 We began our trip to Toledo by making a panoramic tour of the city on our way to the center. We saw the Islamic architecture of Medieval Spain, as well as the history of religious authority, from Visigothic to Muslim to Christian, of the city, alongside the smaller Jewish influence in the architecture and culture.  I got to see the Alcazar of Toledo, which can be seen in the picture below, all the way in the back, on the highest point of the city, surrounded by the Guadalquivir River.

Afterwards, we went to the Cathedral of Toledo. There were so many beautiful paintings, frescoes, sculptures, an extremely detailed and unique choir, not to mention the stunning Gothic architecture and the opulence you could see in every corner. I was able to see The Sacristia, where we saw paintings from Goya, El Greco, Caravaggio, Tiziano, and many others. One of the most impressive sights was the fresco in the ceiling, which showed something new every time I looked at it. The painting in the background is "El Expolio," painted by El Greco, and below the retablo mayor of the church, showing different biblical scenes.

We also visited the Sinagoga del Transito and Santa Maria la Blanca to see examples of the Jewish and Islamic presence in Spain, which were then appropriated during the Reconquista of the Catholic Kings instead of being destroyed. This led to a stunning mix of cultures and the preservation of a part of their histories, even after the period of Convivencia had officially ended.

One of our last historical spots was the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz or Bab al-Mardum, appropriated as a Catholic Chapel and built during the Muslim rule of the city. On the tour of this mosque, they told us the story of how someone tried to steal the Christ from the altar, and it led to a path of blood from the mosque to the perpetrator's house.

Walking through the city was a wonderful experience, as we could actually experience the city almost as it was meant to be during medieval times. It was truly shocking to see how every corner belonged to a different era, all so beautifully maintained to the smallest details, such as the small plaques with Jewish symbols on what used to be the Jewish district during the Convivencia era of Toledo (it just so happens that the only picture I have of them is a broken one, but I swear most of them are complete).

One of the most fun things to see when walking around was the full-body armours and swords in the gift shops. I have never exercised self-restraint as much as in Toledo, every time I saw a cool sword or dagger that TSA would definitely not let me keep. Each had different designs, some more traditional and some leaning more towards fantasy, referencing Game of Thrones and having mythical creatures detailed in them. I did take some Damasquinado, which is the traditional style of jewelry seen in Toledo, and I will probably wear it for years and years to come.

Overall, Toledo was simply a stunning city; every step I took made it better, and it was so much fun to see the interconnections among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian influences there. None of this would have been possible without the Rodney Rodruiguez scholarship, and I am truly so thankful that I was given this opportunity not only to visit the unbelievable Toledo, but to stay in Madrid and experience a whole different lifestyle, culture, and sights. I have been in Spain for less than 10 days, and I can already see myself coming back to keep learning and discovering what else makes this place so charming and beautiful. It would not have been possible without their support, so I am extremely grateful and honored.