| Historic City of Toledo* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
|
| State Party |  Spain |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 379 |
| Region† | Europe |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
Toledo (Latin: Toletum; In Arabic: طليطلة Ṭulayṭela) is a city and municipality located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. It is the capital of the province of Toledo and of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. Toledo is a province of central Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Castile-La Mancha ( Spanish "Castilla-La Mancha" is an autonomous community of Spain. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español was one of the largest Empires in history and one of the first Global empires In the 15th and 16th centuries A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent Many famous people and artists were born or lived in Toledo, including Garcilaso de la Vega, Alfonso X and El Greco, and it was the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. For the Peruvian writer Garcilaso de la Vega see Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Garcilaso de la Vega (c Alfonso X (November 23 1221 Toledo Spain &ndash April 4 1284 Seville Spain) was a Spanish monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, El Greco' ("The Greek " 1541 &ndash April 7 1614 was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Councils of Toledo ( Concilia toletana) From the fifth to the Seventh century, about thirty Synods, variously counted were held at Toledo As of 2005, the city has a population of 75,578 and an area of 232. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1 km² (89. 59 square miles).
Toledo later served as the capital city of Visigothic Spain, beginning with Liuvigild (Leovigild), and was the capital until the Moors conquered Iberia in the 8th century. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Liuvigild, Leuvigild, Leovigild, or Leogild was Visigothic King of Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula) from 569 The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, Toledo enjoyed a golden age. The Caliphate of Córdoba (Arabic خلافة قرطبة ruled the Iberian peninsula ( Al-Andalus) and North Africa from the city of This extensive period is known as La Convivencia, i. La Convivencia ("the Coexistence" is a term used to describe the situation in Spanish history from about 711 to 1492 &ndash concurrent with the e. the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Under Arab rule, Toledo was called Tulaytulah (Arabic طليطلة, academically transliterated Ṭulayṭulah). Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice
On May 25, 1085 Alfonso VI of Castile took Toledo and established direct personal control over the Moorish city from which he had been exacting tribute, and ending the mediaeval Taifa's Kingdom of Toledo . Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Alfonso VI (before June 1040 &ndash June 29 / July 1, 1109) nicknamed the Brave, was King of León from 1065 to 1109 and King of A taifa (from طائفة ṭā'ifa, plural طوائف ṭawā'if) in the history of Iberia was an independent Muslim -ruled principality The Kingdom of Toledo was the second more established and final centre of Visigothic rule in Hispania. This was the first concrete step taken by the combined kingdom of Leon-Castile in the Reconquista by Christian forces. The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period
Toledo was famed for its production of iron and especially of swords and the city is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 When Philip II moved the royal court from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the old city went into a slow decline from which it never recovered. Philip II (Felipe II de España Filipe I ( May 21, 1527 &ndash September 13 1598) was King of Spain from 1556 until 1598 Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain.
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. The Alcázar of Toledo is a stone fortification located in the highest part of Toledo Spain. A military academy or service academy (American English is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the Army the Navy Air Force At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of The Siege of the Alcázar was a highly symbolic Nationalist victory in Toledo in the opening stages of the Spanish Civil War. The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country
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Arts and culture
Toledo reached its zenith in the era of Islamic Caliphate. A caliphate (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa) is the political leadership of the Muslim community in classical and medieval Islamic history Historian P. de Gayangos writes:
The Muslim scientists of this age were unrivaled in the world. Pascual de Gayangos y Arce ( June 21, 1809 &ndash October 4, 1897) was a Spanish scholar and Orientalist. Perhaps among their greatest feats were the famous waterlocks of Toledo. [1]
The old city is located on a mountaintop, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River, and contains many historical sites, including the Alcázar, the cathedral (the primate church of Spain), and the Zocodover, a central market place. The Tagus ( Latin Tagus, Spanish Tajo, Portuguese Tejo, pron. Alcazar (disambiguation An alcázar is a Spanish Castle, from the Arabic word القصر al qasr meaning Primate (from the Latin Primus, "first" is a title or rank bestowed on some Bishops in certain Christian churches
From the 4th century to the 16th century about thirty synods were held at Toledo. A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church convened to decide an issue of doctrine administration or application The earliest, directed against Priscillian, assembled in 400. Priscillian, Bishop of Ávila (died 385 a theologian from Roman Gallaecia (in the Iberian Peninsula) was the first person in the At the synod of 589 the Visigothic King Reccared declared his conversion from Arianism; the synod of 633 decreed uniformity of liturgy throughout the Visigothic kingdom and took stringent measures against baptized Jews who had relapsed into their former faith. Reccared (or Recared) I (reigned 586—601 was Visigothic King of Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula) Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. The council of 681 assured to the archbishop of Toledo the primacy of Spain. Primate (from the Latin Primus, "first" is a title or rank bestowed on some Bishops in certain Christian churches
As nearly one hundred early canons of Toledo found a place in the Decretum Gratiani, they exerted an important influence on the development of ecclesiastical law. The Decretum Gratiani or Concordia discordantium canonum (in some manuscripts Concordantia discordantium canonum) is a collection of Canon law compiled The synod of 1565–1566 concerned itself with the execution of the decrees of the Council of Trent; and the last council held at Toledo, 1582–1583, was guided in detail by Philip II. The Council of Trent was the 19th Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. Philip II (Felipe II de España Filipe I ( May 21, 1527 &ndash September 13 1598) was King of Spain from 1556 until 1598
Toledo was famed for religious tolerance and had large communities of Muslims and Jews until they were expelled from Spain in 1492 (Jews) and 1502 (Muslims). Today's city contains the religious monuments the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the Synagogue of El Transito, and the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz dating from before the expulsion, still maintained in good condition. The Synagogue / church of Santa María la Blanca is a religious building erected in the city of Toledo, Spain in 1180 (according to The Synagogue of El Transito ( Sinagoga del Tránsito) is after Santa María la Blanca synagogue the oldest existing Synagogue in Toledo Spain The Mosque of Christ of the Light or Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz is the only remaining mosque in Toledo of the ten which existed in the city during Moorish
In the 13th century, Toledo was a major cultural center under the guidance of Alfonso X, called "El Sabio" ("the Wise") for his love of learning. Alfonso X (November 23 1221 Toledo Spain &ndash April 4 1284 Seville Spain) was a Spanish monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, The program of translations, begun under Archbishop Raymond of Toledo, continued to bring vast stores of knowledge to Europe by rendering great academic and philosophical works in Arabic into Latin. The Renaissance of the 12th century saw a major search by European scholars for new learning which led them to the Arabic fringes of Europe especially to Islamic Francis Raymond de Sauvetât, or Raymond of Toledo, was the French Archbishop of Toledo from 1125 to 1152
The Cathedral of Toledo (Catedral de Toledo) was built between 1226-1493 and modeled after the Bourges Cathedral, though it also combines some characteristics of the Mudéjar style. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, also called Primate Cathedral of Toledo, is a church in Spain. Bourges is a commune in central France on the Yèvre river It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital Mudéjar is the name given to the Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus, who remained in Christian territory after the Reconquista but were It is remarkable for its incorporation of light and features the Baroque altar called El Transparente, several stories high, with fantastic figures of stucco, paintings, bronze castings, and multiple colors of marble, a masterpiece of medieval mixed media by Narciso Tomé topped by the daily effect for just a few minutes of a shaft of light from which this feature of the cathedral derives its name. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc El Transparente is a Baroque altarpiece in the Ambulatory of the Cathedral of Toledo. Mixed media, in Visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed Narciso Tomé (1690 - 1742 was a Spanish architect and sculptor of the late- Baroque or Rococo period Two notable bridges secured access to Toledo across the Tajo, the Puente de Alcántara and the later built Puente de San Martín. The Puente de San Martín ( English: San Martin Bridge) is a Medieval bridge across the river Tajo in Toledo, Spain
Toledo was home to El Greco for the latter part of his life, and is the subject of some of his most famous paintings, including The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, exhibited in the Church of Santo Tomé. El Greco' ("The Greek " 1541 &ndash April 7 1614 was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is a painting by El Greco, a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance
Additionally, the city was renowned throughout the Middle Ages and into the present day as an important center for the production of swords and other bladed instruments.
Gallery
 The Tagus River flows through Toledo |
 The bridge of San Martín over the Tagus River |
 A view across the river of the old wall of Toledo- August 2006 |
 Old Toledo from across the Tagus River, April 2007 |
Demography
| 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2004 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59,000 | 66,006 | 68,382 | 73,485 | 77,601 |
Sister cities
- Konya,
Turkey - Aachen,
Germany - Nara, Nara,
Japan - Havana,
Cuba - Jerusalem,
Israel - Toledo, Ohio,
United States - Veliko Tarnovo,
Bulgaria - Poznań,
Poland
See also
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1856). The Puente de San Martín ( English: San Martin Bridge) is a Medieval bridge across the river Tajo in Toledo, Spain Demography is the statistical study of all Populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic population that is one that changes over Konya ( قونیه; also Koniah, Konieh, Konia, and Qunia; historically also known as Iconium ( Latin Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches ( Ripuarian: Oche, Dutch: Aken, Spanish: Aquisgrán, Italian: Aquisgrana, French, Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. This article is about the city in Ohio, USA. For Toledo Spain, see that article The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Veliko Tarnovo (Велико Търново sometimes transliterated as Veliko Turnovo) is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Poznań Lublin Voivodeship This article is about the city in Poland Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra For the period of Spanish cultural flourishing in the 17th century see Spanish Golden Age. The Kingdom of Toledo was the second more established and final centre of Visigothic rule in Hispania. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, first published in 1854, was the last of a series of classical dictionaries edited by the English scholar Sir William Smith (1813 &ndash 1893 English Lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents
External links
- Toledo, Spain is at coordinates Coordinates:
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