4+Toledo

After two nights in Madrid you will head south to and make a quick visit to Toledo.

After you leave Toledo you will most likely stop at a town called Puerto Lápice. Here you will have a quick lunch at the Inn of Quijote. I recommend the Gazpacho if you enjoy tomatoes. (Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup served with homemade croutons.) The restaurant is also famous for a dish called Pisto Manchego which is a vegetable soup with lots of tomatoes and a fried egg. Here it the gazpacho ! Mmmmmmmm! So good on a hot day ! By the way, do you know the story of Don Quijote de La Mancha? You might want to read up on this famous character and Spanish icon. You will see reference to him everywhere.



Here is the city of Toledo and I believe that it will take your breath away. Toledo is one of the most important centers of European medieval history and was capital of Spain from the Gothic epoch until 1560. Walking through its streets you will feel as if you have stepped back into the Middle-Ages. The streets are narrow and made of cobblestone so your bus will not be able to drive inside the city. Your driver will wait for you outside. When you leave the city he may take you to a sword and jewelry factory just outside the city. The jewelry that you will find here is called Damascene jewelry and Toledo, Spain is the largest producer of Damascene in the world today. Be sure to buy a necklace or pin to take home to mom or grandmom ! This is what it looks like: