Entering the City Gates of the Historic City of Toledo
It was a surprisingly short walk to the main entrance of the Historic City of Toledo. I guess, the uphill part starts here. The Historic City of Toledo is built on top of a small hill in what is now modern Toledo in Spain. It is right smack in the middle of Spain and it is in many ways the heart of Spain as well. The city gave me that feeling where the whole place is very dusty. It is not, it is just that the colors of the buildings tend to be earthy, probably to match the color of the old city. As you approach the old city, you will start to see the requisite hostels and restaurants, it is still not as bad as I have seen elsewhere but I was a bit disappointed to see that even Europe is not spared of this commercialization.
Walking Along the City Walls of the Historic City of Toledo
I still held on to the illusion that people were still going about their old ways here in the city but it really has turned into a major tourist destination. The Historic City of Toledo is on of the major days trips which you can do when you are in Madrid. It is a short train ride away and it is easy enough to get to. Although here at the entrance, I still do not see a lot of tourists and tour groups, judging from the number of restaurants which line the way up the old city, it will be quite busy up there. Like any other medieval city, the historic city of Toledo is protected by city walls which naturally surround the city. The river nearby provides a natural barrier as well making it slightly more difficult to invade it. Surprisingly, the gates here aren’t very big. Perhaps this was just an alternative exit and the main one somewhere else. I just got here so I don’t really know what I was seeing.
Closer Look at the City Gate of the Historic City of Toledo
Still, entering the historic city, somehow gives you a feeling to stepping into the middle ages. The walls of the city have been preserved, as well as the gates themselves. There is incredible detail on the designs of the gate giving you a hint of the artistic significance of Toledo back then. I believe that the city gate is just an appetizer to the main course which is the historic city itself. I have a map with me from the tourist information center and I will be heading off to the main sights and try to take in the Historic City of Toledo as much as I can.
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