Toledo, though a small city in Spain found on a Castilian hilltop overlooking the Rio Tajo (River Tagus), was once the Spanish capital under the Visigoths (567 to 711) and again when Felipe II moved the Court of Spain to Madrid (1085 to 1561). It is still the religious centre of Spain. The city was famous for the coexistence of Christian, Islamic and Jewish cultures. In the Middle Age Toledo was the European capital for the study of languages and natural sciences.

Locals often refer to Toledo as 'La Ciudad Imperial' (The Imperial City). Some of the top attractions in Toledo includes the magnificent cathedral - housing some beautiful stained glass, delicate wood, stone sculptures and a large collection of paintings, El Alcázar (The Alcázar) - a fort that was founded almost 1,000 years ago, Museo de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Museum) – with a large art collection including a wide selection of El Greco and the Museo de Taller del Moro (The Taller del Moro Museum) – with interesting information about the construction of Toledo cathedral. Toledo is situated near to Madrid, the capital of Spain, and is full of many charming narrow, winding streets which are almost like a labyrinth. Most of the Toledo hotels are located at the Plaza de Zocodover, which is known as Zoco to the locals, and there are also a good number of excellent restaurants and bars in this area of Toledo.

To see the charm and beauty of Toledo at its best, you'll need to stay at least a night. A day-trip will leave you hard pressed to see everything. More importantly, in the evening with the crowds gone and the city lit up by floodlights – resembling one of El Greco's moonlit paintings – Toledo is a different place entirely.