The Cathedral of Toledo in Spain is the main church of the diocese of Toledo and impresses with its immense size and the magnificent decoration of the interior.
Toledo Cathedral is the main church of the Diocese of Toledo in the heart of Spain and is on our list of the 10 most beautiful churches in Spain.
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PICTURES: Toledo Cathedral
Photo gallery: Toledo Cathedral
History of the Cathedral of Toledo
Where the magnificent cathedral stands today, a church was founded as early as the 6th century by St. Eugene, the first bishop of Toledo. However, this was converted into a mosque after the Moorish invasion and thus no longer used as a Christian place of worship.
After Alfonso VI reconquered Toledo, the old church was demolished. In 1227, construction began on the cathedral, which was to be dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The building was called by important art historians "the bearer of the leading thoughts of the occidental architecture", due to its immense artistic and architectural value. Here, in the Cathedral, is also the origin of the University, since outstanding technical and artistic achievements were already made on the building.
Toledo Cathedral Architecture
Toledo Cathedral has a total of five naves, with the side aisles extended behind the main chapel to enclose the chancel as a semicircular double ambulatory.
Five massive gates and three side gates lead the visitor into the interior of the monumental sacred building. The light of the sun falls through the more than 750 leaded glass windows from the 15th and 16th centuries and conjures up a wonderful atmosphere in the magnificently decorated interior. These windows were not closed for a long time; they were not glazed until several hundred years after construction began.
Work on the construction was completed by the end of the 15th century, when the last vault of the cathedral was built under Don Pedro González de Mendoza, advisor to Queen Isabel I of Castile.
Places of interest in Toledo Cathedral
When visiting the magnificent Toledo Cathedral, one should definitely take a look at "El Ochavo". This is a magnificent room from the 17th century, which is part of the sanctuary and houses a valuable collection of church ornaments.
The altarpiece in the main chapel is also worth seeing. It is composed of five parts and depicts scenes from the New Testament with life-size wooden sculptures.
In the cathedral you can find some chapels. Among others, in the chapel of Santiago are buried the bones of the crown field lord of Castile, Don Álvaro de Luna, and his wife Doña Juana de Pimentel.
But this is not the only burial place in Toledo Cathedral. In the chapel of San Blas, the Archbishop Pedro Tenorio, who was responsible for the construction of the northern cloister and its annexes, found his final resting place.
Today, Toledo Cathedral is a center of pastoral care for both priests and the faithful population.
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