Toledo and El Greco

Toledo is a city that has long fascinated me, as a beautifully preserved medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews in its history, and as the home of many of El Greco’s masterpieces. Mark and I took the morning high speed train to Toledo and had breakfast in the main plaza under umbrellas and by a flaming heater. Walking to Museum Santa Cruz, I loved seeing the statue of Cervantes, but the paintings by El Greco at the Santa Cruz, at tiny Santo Tome Church (his greatest work) and in the Sacristy of Toledo Cathedral blew me away. I had to take my time gazing at his swirling works, especially in the Sacristy. Of course, the Toledo Cathedral is a wonder in itself, and we so appreciate its artistic glory, but Mark and I preferred the simple beauty and peacefulness of San Juan de Los Reyes Monastery. Our walk through the atmospheric old streets, and then to the train station with the evening views of Toledo, is one of my favorite memories.