The incredible "City of the three cultures"
Toledo
It can be said that Toledo is one of Spain's most dazzling cities, carefully positioned atop a valley overlooking the Tagus River. It’s also known as the ‘city of the three cultures’, a place where (legend has it) Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities peacefully co-inhabited over the centuries. In fact, this World Heritage city is considered by many travellers as the Jerusalem of Western Europe.
Considered the Imperial Capital, under the rule of the Habsburgs, Toledo rich heritage built over the years, can be discovered by walking its narrow and steep streets, embraced by the a meander of the Tagus River, highlighting the Cathedral, the Alcázar and many other interesting cultural and architectural sites, such as Santa María la Blanca and Tránsito’s Synagogue.
This incredible city, which is barely an hour from Madrid, has a lot to offer, apart from all cultural sites and venues, there are endless opportunities for all unusual activities. Known for forging swords and knives, since the period of the Roman Empire, many film productions have had swords forged in Toledo for epic movies. For this reason, a blacksmith workshop is among one of the most popular group activities, learning the technique of forging swords. Additionally it’s possible to combine with another typical and popular craftsmanship work called “damascene”. Damascene is a technic that consists of making figures and drawings, by inlaying threads and sheets of gold and silver in steel or iron; its name comes from the city of origin: Damascus, in Syria.
As far as gastronomy is concerned, roll up your sleeves to learn one of the local delicacies, marzipan. In Toledo marzipan sweet comes in all kinds of shapes and figures. During the workshop, teams will be given the challenge of making the most delicious and creative marzipan shape.
Toledo is also known for their wines, there are a few wineries by the Tagus Valley that can be visited, such as, Casa Del Valle. Apart from visiting the vineyards and learning about the winemaking process, visits can include a tasting of different wines accompanied by the best sausages in the region.
Some local restaurants can also be considered a gastronomy reference, among which are the Hacienda del Cardenal, a cozy manor house located by the medieval city wall, that offers an oasis of tranquillity and well-being in the middle of the historic city centre, or the typical "cigarrales", a recreational estate or manor house located on the Southern Bank of the Tagus River, offering more than just a concept, currently, all “cigarrales” were renewed into beautiful hotels and high-end cuisine restaurants offering breath-taking views from their privileged location.
In terms of hotels, Toledo has a wide range of hotels offering high quality services and uniqueness. The Hotel Alfonso VI or Hotel San Juan de los Reyes, both located in historical buildings in downtown or the Beatriz Toledo Auditorium with its 23 meeting rooms for events and more than 7,000 m2 of outdoor spaces, in addition to 295 rooms… are fine examples of Toledo potential to accommodate small and large events.