Discover the fascinating city of Toledo, once home to the great painter El Greco, on this tour from Madrid. Immerse yourself in a melting pot of three cultures -- Christian, Muslim and Jewish -- and choose from two itineraries for a day full of historic Gothic cathedrals, cultural sightseeing, Spanish tapas and wine tasting. Visit Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, Church of Santo Tomé and Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca, and opt for the winery add-on to include a visit to a local mosque, a wine-tasting session at a local winery and a traditional Spanish lunch at a local restaurant (lunch optional).
Your morning starts in central Madrid near Plaza de Espana, where you’ll meet your guide and hop in a coach for a 1-hour drive south to Toledo. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is one of the oldest in Europe and features great artistic and architectural beauty from many periods of history: Arabian, Gothic, Mudejar, the Renaissance and Baroque.
Your first stop is Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, a Roman-Catholic cathedral that’s one of the three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain. As you explore the interior, your guide will point out how the architecture shows all the stages of Spanish Gothic style. You'll soon discover why many experts consider this the best example of Gothic architecture in Spain. You’ll also see a large number of artworks including stained-glasses windows, altarpieces and El Greco paintings.
Next, visit Church of Santo Tomé, which dates back to the 12th century but was completely rebuilt in the 14th century by the Count of Orgaz. The tower is one of the best examples of Mudéjar art in Toledo, and the interior is home to one of El Greco’s most famous paintings, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, which you'll see on display.
Stop at a typical Spanish tapas restaurant for a glass of wine paired with Manchego cheese. Then continue with a visit to Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca (Synagogue of Saint Mary the White), where you'll spend time admiring the interesting arches designed in the damascene technique, which involves the incrustation of precious metals in steel.
The Tour Only option is a 5-hour experience. If you add the winery visit (with or without lunch), your Toledo tour will last about 8 hours.
Winery Visit
Before the cathedral, visit Valmardón Mosque or Mosque of El Cristo de la Luz (also known as Bib-al-Mardum Mosque). Delve into the Muslim history of one of these mosques on a guided tour.
After a morning in Toledo, make your way to the city of Bargas, home to the Finca Loranque winery. Enjoy a wine-tasting session at the wine cellar here to get a taste of local Spanish wine. Sample three wines paired with an appetizer while learning about the production of wine in Spain from your guide.
Special Offer - Book before March 31, 2014 and travel between April 1 and October 31, 2014 to save 10% on the Recommended Retail Price - Book Now!
