The Cathedral of Toledo is not only one of the most famous places in Castilla, it is not only the best example of late Gothic architecture, but also one of the richest museums in Spain.
The Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo, also known as the 4th Primacy of Spain, is not only the most famous attraction in the city, but also the main Catholic temple in the country. The area in which this majestic structure is located has always been associated with religion in one way or another. At first it had been an ancient Roman basilica, then it became an Arrian Church of the Visigoths, and then - a Muslim mosque, which was sadly destroyed during another battle against Christians.
As for the temple itself, its construction, which began in 1226 at the initiative of King Ferdinand III, lasted more than two centuries and did not finish until 1493. In 1986, the Primada Cathedral was recognized as Historical Heritage and registered in the Register of the Unesco. Although the rugged terrain and dense urban development do not allow us to appreciate the grandeur of this building, the figures will speak for themselves. The length of the cathedral is not less than 120 m, its width reaches 60, and its height - 44, which made it not only the tallest building in the city, but also helped to enter the 6 Christian shrines largest in Europe.
The north entrance of the Cathedral of Toledo is marked by the Portal del Reloj, which dates from the first half of the 13th century. The pediment of this door is decorated with relief images representing the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, while the space above the main arch is decorated with a huge clock set 300 years later. The top of the Puerta del Reloj is crowned by Tower 90, whose ancient dome weighs at least 17 tons. Because this part of the temple is at the end of an old shopping street. Currently, the entrance to the Primada Cathedral through the Portal del Reloj is still absolutely free, but you will see nothing more than a small viewpoint.
The most recent structure of the complex is the Portal de Lviv, created in the second half of the 16th century and located on the south side of the building. The main difference of this door is the rich stone carving and the huge columns crowned with marble figures of lions. Today, the Puerta de los Leones is the main entrance to the church - it is used not only by tourists, but also by believers who come to services.
In addition, the Cathedral of Santa María has several other portals, 2 of which lead to the cloister, a small open courtyard with covered galleries and ancient frescoes depicting scenes from the life of the Great Martyrs.
Currently, the Cathedral of Toledo, located in the old part of the city, is a functioning Catholic Church. Although admission is completely free during religious services, the rest of the time it functions as a museum, for which you will have to pay a certain amount.
Address: Calle Cardenal Cisneros, 1, 45002 Toledo, Spain
