Day Ten - Eleven

Hola! Saturday was my first weekend trip to Toledo! We took an hour and a half long bus ride to the old town where we then proceeded to get a small tour from a local tour guide about the history of Toledo. Toledo, often called the "City of Three Cultures," is a historic city in central Spain known for its rich blend of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish heritage. Its history dates back to ancient times, and it has played a significant role in Spain's cultural and political development. Toledo's history begins with its founding by the Carpetani, a Celtic-Iberian people. It was later conquered by the Romans around 193 BCE, becoming an important administrative center. The city was known as Toletum during Roman rule and prospered as a hub for agriculture, metalworking, and trade. In the 6th century CE, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Toledo became the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom. It was a crucial religious and political center during this time, particularly under King Reccared I, who converted to Catholicism, marking the city's importance in spreading Christianity in the region. In 711 CE, Toledo fell to the Moors during the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Under Muslim rule, the city thrived as a center of learning and culture, with significant contributions in science, philosophy, and the arts. Toledo became known for its tolerance and coexistence of Muslims, Jews, and Christians. In 1085, Alfonso VI of Castile captured Toledo during the Reconquista, making it a Christian stronghold once again. Despite this, the city continued to be a melting pot of cultures and a major intellectual center. Toledo reached its peak in the 16th century, becoming the imperial capital under King Charles I. It was during this time that the city became a symbol of Spanish monarchy and Catholicism, with the construction of numerous churches, monasteries, and the grand Toledo Cathedral. However, the city began to decline after Philip II moved the capital to Madrid in 1561. Toledo's economic and political influence waned, but it retained its religious significance. 

One of the main focal points of Toledo is the Cathedral called The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo. This cathedral was among one of the most ornate cathedrals I've visited and the exterior architecture was just as impressive as its interior. Above the main entrance, there are sculptures that make up the last supper, which was an unexpected gem among the many statutes that decorated its exterior. I had of course known about the many famous paintings of the Last Supper, but had never seen a sculpture of that size before. 

Once inside the cathedral, we saw the many gilded altars and statues representing the Catholic faith, however, the ones in this Cathedral were beyond extravagant and I've probably never seen more gold concentrated into one building until we went inside. 

After Saturday's excursion to Toledo, we continued our weekend trips to the Monastario de Piedras. I was very surprised with the beautiful waterfalls and caves that we got to hike through. Even though I'm not much of a person who enjoys hiking, this trail gets 5 stars from me. The photos will do more justice than any of my descriptions ever could, however, it is definitely worth it to go in person. 

After our hiking adventure, we walked through the monastery itself which actually used to produce wine which was surprising to me. I had assumed that monasteries were solely used as places of worship and a residency for monks, but this monastery in particular had monks growing and producing wine. The wine production has since stopped and the monastery is now just a museum where visitors can hike around the mountain and visit what remains of the monastery. 

This hiking trip was very tiring, so once we got back from our two and a half hour long bus ride, I immediately went to sleep. Monday is my first day of classes, which I'm admittedly very excited for as I will be taking mainly nursing classes. Adios!